All mentors

Oz Merchant

Startup and Ecommerce Coach and Advisor

Raleigh, United States (-05:00 UTC) Englishfrom Raleigh, United States
Usually responds in 10 hours
Free
Price per hour
30 min
Time Blocks Available
4.98
94 reviews / 132 sessions
Sun
11
Next availability

Bio

I've had 3 "Acts" to my career. Act One was in brick and mortar retail, wholesale, and manufacturing. Act Two was high tech SaaS companies, building out sales and customer success teams and strategizing on go-to-market and pricing models. I have built out companies in the US and in Europe. In addition, over the last 30 years, I studied with some of the top mindset experts focused on personal and professional development like the teachers of Tony Robbins to top trainers in SPIN Selling and Sandler Sales Training. Whether you are struggling to get your sales org off the ground, deciphering where your customer success team should focus on first, or needing a mindhack to get out of your own way, schedule some time with me and we'll get to work. I have helped launch and scale 6 SaaS startups and helped to raise $147.2M in VC funding. Currently, I'm a startup and ecommerce coach and help with prepping founders to pitch to investors.

Expertise

  • Bootstrapping

    After having worked in a number of early stage startups during the pre-funding days and having bootstapped my own company, I have gotten a few lumps along the way. Happy to share where things went right and where things went wrong.

  • Building a team

    Building SaaS Sales or Customer Success Teams is my jam. From sales operations (conversion metrics, systems and technologies) to comp/incentive plans, building a strong, motivated performing team is at the heart of any organization. Getting the structure right early on will set your business up for success.

  • Customer success

    While the field of CS is relatively new and growing, I was fortunate to get an early start and help build multiple teams. Customer Success can comprise of account management, best practices, implementation, NPS management, renewals management, expansions management, and even customer support in some cases. CS is at the heart of every successful organization connecting many different departments together as the customer advocate internally to ensure their success.

  • Mindset coaching

    In the Art of War, Sun Tzu states that "Every battle is won before it is fought." The idea alludes to the impact of a mindset and its impact on any endeavor. The startup journey is full of ups and downs and requires a level-head to navigate the waters. Ping me when the waters become rough.

  • Sales

    From door-to-door to retail sales and from outside to inside sales, I've done it all. I've been in B2B SaaS sales in some capacity for the last 15 years, whether selling directly or building sales teams or training sales teams. From quick transaction selling to longer enterprise sales, the philosophy is the same, the execution differs. In enterprise sales, you just have a million little sales to get to the big one.

  • Venting frustration

    Having spent many years coaching individuals, I know life in general can become frustrating. I offer 5 min of venting and the rest of the time will be focused on getting to the crux of what's going on. The feeling "behind the feeling". It's laser like and cuts to the heart of the matter. The ego sometimes doesn't like hearing it, but it'll make you a better leader, hence having a rippling effect throughout your organization.

Toolkit

  • ActiveCampaign logo

    ActiveCampaign

    From creating landing pages to newsletters, AC is a great solution when you are needing something more robust than Mailchimp and less costly than Hubspot.

  • Basecamp logo

    Basecamp

    Basecamp is a very simple PM tool and I used it exclusively until I moved to Trello. Basecamp is still a fantastic tool and can be the right solution for many organizations.

  • Freshworks logo

    Freshworks

    Freshsales and Freshdesk and Freshchat make for a wonderful suite of products at a great price. Using all three helped me keep all customer channels of communication tied to the CRM for deeper and more meaningful insights.

  • HubSpot logo

    HubSpot

    Hubspot has grown a lot over the years moving into many markets. My experience has been specifically on using it to build out newsletters and email marketing campaigns and landing pages.

  • Intercom logo

    Intercom

    I've built out the custom bots, product tours, surveys, banners in both staging and production and then integrated it with Salesforce and Slack. Very powerful solution. Only thing I haven't used is their Marketing platform.

  • Mailchimp logo

    Mailchimp

    I've used it for a few years with several companies. Great solution for starting out and scales quite well. They keep adding features to make the solution more robust without impacting usability.

  • Salesforce logo

    Salesforce

    Salesforce is a beast. My experience is with their Sales and Service Cloud. I can make it do a lot of things without being able to code in APEX. Admin-focused not Developer-focused. I've also worked with solutions like SalesLoft and Outreach which make Salesforce even more powerful.

  • Trello logo

    Trello

    I love Trello so much that I use it as my own personal to-do tool. Works great with teams and individudals. I built out implementation boards, marketing boards, go-to-market boards, product planning boards, etc. A great tool with a simple UI.

  • Zoho logo

    Zoho

    I see ZohoCRM as Salesforce lite. I've been impressed with the robustness of their offering and for a far better price. I've implemented it at smaller companies.

Industries

  • FinTech

    Building a digital bank for ecommerce with funding and cashflow management capabilities. Leading the sales, success, and support teams to scale the business for online sellers around the world.

  • E-Commerce Platforms

    I have worked with hundreds of ecommerce brands and resellers to analyze their business, reviewing their financials, and helping them make more sound decisions as they scale.

Experience

  • The Founder Institute is a global network of startups and mentors that helps entrepreneurs launch meaningful and enduring technology companies. Through a four-month early-stage accelerator program, entrepreneurs can launch companies with expert training, feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs, without quitting their day jobs. The current portfolio has an estimated $20 Billion in funds and 3500+ companies launched. More than 80% of businesses that graduate from the program survives more than five years.

    Other

  • Futureproof

    CEO
    •runfutureproof.com

    The Mind of a CFO. The Power of AI. For Founders. Futureproof is your AI-powered financial copilot, built for SaaS and eCommerce founders. We replace clunky spreadsheets and outdated accounting software with automated bookkeeping, real-time forecasting, and scenario planning—all in one intuitive dashboard. From pre-revenue to Series B, we help you stay on top of your numbers, make smarter decisions, and raise with confidence. No finance team? No problem. Futureproof gives you CFO-level insight without the CFO price tag.

    SaaS

  • OzMerchant.com

    Owner
    •ozmerchant.com/

    This is my personal consulting and coaching site as I work with SaaS startups and ecommerce businesses.

    Consulting

  • ecomsellersHQ

    CEO
    •ecomsellershq.com/

    Our mission is to bring together all the fragmented ecommerce resources into one central hub to help sellers start or scale their business with trusted tools, services, and events available at their fingertips.

  • Founders Local

    Founder
    •founderslocal.com/

    We are the local hub for startup founders providing the stop shop for all resources needed to get a new venture launched. Tap into your local ecosystem to find the help you need as you build, launch, and scale your new venture.

  • Viably

    VP, Sales, Success, & Support
    •runviably.com

    Building a Customer Success and Support organization from the ground up at a new FinTech startup. Think Mint.com for business.

    FinTechB2BSaaS

  • RefundWiz

    Advisor/Investor

    MasRefund by RefundWiz is the fastest, easiest and most accurate tax filing solution using AI/ML. Filing your tax return is as simple as 1 -2 -3. 1) Create an account 2) Take a few pictures of documents 3) Submit. Let's our algorithm do the rest while you wait for your refund (if applicable). - Advise and mentor the CEO to help scale up MásRefund - Make investor introductions to secure funds to reach new milestones

  • Mindhacking

    Mind Hacker
    •gomindhacking.com

    ​Oz has been a Mind Hacker since 1999, helping clients throughout the US achieve their personal and professional goals. The essence of his work is to facilitate self-growth by helping you identify the core challenges and setbacks in your business life, so that you can overcome them with confidence. He specializes in creating personalized plans and providing tools to guide you forward and achieve your desired goals.​ When he wasn't working directly one-on-one with clients, he was coaching employees and building teams that delivered results. These hacks can be used with anyone to help them get to the next level. His current focus is specifically Entrepreneurs/Startup Founders, Coaches, and Sales Professionals.

    Other

  • Wellistic, Inc

    Founder and CEO
    •wellistic.com

    We are creating a wellness platform built on trust to bring all integrative healthcare providers under one roof for members to easily access, review, rate, and recommend.

    SaaSB2BB2C

  • CureMint

    VP of Sales & Marketing
    •curemint.io

    Building a SaaS sales and marketing team from the ground up. Defining and implementing a sales and marketing strategy in the Fintech procurement space.

    E-CommerceSaaSB2BFinTechHealthTech

  • Samanage

    Various
    •samanage.com

    Director, Sales/Sales Ops (USA) Global Director, Customer Success (Worldwide) Director, EMEA &APAC (Netherlands)

    SaaSB2B

  • ShareFile

    Senior Sales Executive

    Citrix ShareFile is a leading provider of web based file sharing and data archiving solutions for business customers worldwide. Businesses use Citrix ShareFile to deploy custom branded client portals and virtual data rooms giving their customers and employees 24/7 password protected access to data. ShareFile was acquired by Citrix in 2011. - Successfully drove over $600,000 in Annual Contract Value (ACV) for ShareFile's cutting-edge cloud-based secure file transfer, client portal, and virtual data room solution, catering to key sectors: Accounting, Financial (Private Equity, Investment Banking, Venture Capital), and Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) - Set a new sales benchmark within the second month, consistently surpassing quotas with an impressive 120% achievement rate each month since inception (accomplished through strategic cold calling, extensive online research, and a comprehensive understanding of prospect pain points) - Conducted personalized online presentations showcasing the specific benefits and optimal configurations of ShareFile's web-based solution, leveraging a profound knowledge of technology to address clients' unique business challenges - Showcased ShareFile's prowess in enhancing business processes and workflows at industry tradeshows, garnering increased sales and heightened interest in our company. - Played a pivotal role in building a successful sales force by conducting interviews, providing training, and offering ongoing coaching, aligning with the company's vision of a thriving and profitable sales department. - Enhanced marketing collateral and price sheets, tailoring them to effectively convey ShareFile's value proposition to targeted verticals, ensuring a compelling and resonant message

  • inMotionNow

    Enterprise Account Executive

    inMotionNow is a leading enterprise approval workflow solution for print, video, and interactive content, facilitating efficiency and productivity in the creative approval process. It was acquired by Lytho in 2021. - Successfully sold inMotion's cutting-edge cloud-based creative content approval and workflow management solution to Fortune 2000 companies, including industry giants such as Time, Inc., McKesson, Leo Burnett, and Choice Hotels - Surpassed sales targets consistently, achieving an impressive 103% in 2008 and an outstanding 111% in 2009 - Cultivated and nurtured strong client relationships with key decision-makers, including Vice Presidents of Marketing, Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Technology Officers (CTOs), and Creative Directors - Effectively communicated the unique advantages of the product, tailoring presentations to showcase its benefits in addressing specific use cases - Managed the entire sales process from lead generation to implementation and subsequent renewals, contributing to business expansion - Demonstrated expertise in overseeing the sales pipeline, ensuring seamless transitions and client satisfaction

  • PointClear

    Business Development

    PointClear is the prospect development company. We bridge the gap between marketing and sales by providing response management and opportunity development services, opportunity qualification and opportunity nurturing. Clients include Microsoft, SGI, Ultimate Software, Ingenix (subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group) and D&B. - Drove the exploration and development of promising software development outsourcing prospects in Vietnam and India, showcasing a proven ability to open up new channels for business growth - Facilitated high-level strategic discussions with top-tier executives, including CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, and Senior VPs, skillfully discerning business needs, gathering valuable market intelligence, and strategically delivering opportunities that translated into impactful sales for our clients - Applied sophisticated SPIN Selling techniques with precision to systematically uncover both implied and explicit needs, strategically positioning our clients for success and generating substantial leads - Exhibited exceptional communication prowess by executing a daily average of 80-100 cold calls, adeptly navigating through organizational layers to engage with key decision-makers and effectively qualifying their needs with our specialized services

  • Systemax

    Corporate Account Manager

    A Fortune 1000 company, sells personal computers, computer supplies, consumer electronics and industrial products through a system of branded e-Commerce web sites, retail stores, relationship marketers and direct mail catalogs in North America and Europe. - Spearheaded the growth and optimization of substantial accounts, including industry giants such as Gates Corporation, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Emerson Electric. Successfully fostered connections with CTOs, IT Directors, and IT Managers, ensuring enduring business partnerships - Overachieved individual monthly targets, consistently surpassing a quota of $40,000 by proactively identifying and capitalizing on new opportunities. Positioned Global Computer as a paramount provider of innovative IT solutions - Cultivated and enhanced relationships with key strategic partners, solidifying Global Computer's reputation as the ultimate destination for comprehensive IT hardware and licensed software solutions

  • Core Group International

    Business Owner

    A SMB web design and SEO marketing firm focused on helping small business owners develop an online presence. - Orchestrated and executed precision-targeted marketing initiatives, leveraging email and print channels, resulting in substantial new business generation - Employed advanced strategies with Google AdWords and Overture/Yahoo to amplify web traffic, effectively channeling prospects to the company's online platform and cultivating valuable leads - Spearheaded the creation of a dynamic website, crafting compelling content tailored to resonate with specific target audiences, fortifying the company's brand messaging - Innovated by developing bespoke client forms and assessments, seamlessly integrating them both online and in print formats to streamline information gathering and elevate communication efficiency between coach and client - Focused on client engagement through meticulous follow-ups, systematically tracking and documenting client progress to ensure optimal satisfaction and results

  • FedEx Office

    Commercial Account Manager

    FedEx Office is a chain of stores that provide a retail outlet for FedEx Express and FedEx Ground shipping, as well as printing, copying, and binding services. They acquired Kinko's in 2003. - Leveraged dynamic sales strategies to promote and sell Kinko’s cutting-edge business services, including bespoke document design, high-volume document reproduction, and eye-catching posters and banners, employing effective cold calling and telemarketing techniques - Elevated customer satisfaction and loyalty by seamlessly bridging the gap between the production department and clients, ensuring a smooth and personalized experience that fostered lasting relationships - Drove a remarkable 25% in sales growth by cultivating robust partnerships with outsourcing vendors, empowering Kinko’s to address a diverse range of customer needs with agility and precision - Played a pivotal role in the strategic planning of store expansion by collaborating with the core management team, contributing valuable insights to sales and marketing initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable growth

  • Konica Minolta

    Sales Executive

    Konica Minolta’s portfolio of products and services includes: Printing, multifunctional copiers/printer systems, laser printers, production printing systems, applications, consulting and services plus support. They acquired Danka Office Imaging in 2008. - Defined a sales strategy for state-of-the-art digital office systems, encompassing printers, digital and analog copiers, and cutting-edge fax solutions, with a targeted focus on capturing the attention of small and medium businesses throughout the sales journey - Surpassed sales quotas with an exceptional 278% overachievement within the initial two months, earning recognition as the 8th top-performing national sales representative for Q3 within the company - Elevated sales engagement through dynamic on-site and in-house presentations tailored for upper management and key decision-makers. Masterfully communicated the nuanced value proposition of our offerings, resulting in seamless deal closures and the cultivation of robust client partnerships

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