233 Alex Quilici - Pivoting for Growth: Proven Strategies for Scaling and Innovation in Competitive Markets

In this episode of the SaaS Fuel Podcast, Jeff Mains sits down with Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail and a pioneer in voice technology, to explore the groundbreaking strategies behind scam prevention and data privacy. From using AI to fingerprint illegal calls to scaling SaaS solutions for carriers and enterprises, Alex shares key insights on innovation, compliance, and leadership in a fast-evolving telecom landscape.

Key Takeaways

In this episode of the SaaS Fuel Podcast, Jeff Mains sits down with Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail and a pioneer in voice technology, to explore the groundbreaking strategies behind scam prevention and data privacy. From using AI to fingerprint illegal calls to scaling SaaS solutions for carriers and enterprises, Alex shares key insights on innovation, compliance, and leadership in a fast-evolving telecom landscape.

Key Takeaways:

00:00 - Introduction to YouMail's Privacy-First Data Approach

00:21 - Identifying Illegal Calls Across Networks

00:54 - Welcome to SaaS Fuel with Jeff Mains

01:19 - Pivot or Persevere: The SaaS Founder’s Dilemma

02:12 - Alex Quilici’s Journey: From Qualcomm to YouMail

04:46 - Lessons in Scaling and Exiting Businesses

06:41 - Tackling Scam Calls with AI Fingerprinting

10:01 - Why B2B is Scaling Faster Than B2C for YouMail

14:01 - The Impact of Scam Calls on Enterprises & Consumers

17:15 - AI in Scam Prevention: Opportunities & Risks

20:42 - Gen Z Lessons for Businesses: Permission-Based Calls

25:08 - Listening to Customers: The Unexpected Path to Success

31:35 - How Innovators Attract Innovators: Building Teams

33:50 - Privacy by Design: A Framework for SaaS Success

43:14 - Sales Objections as Opportunities for Innovation

Tweetable Quotes

We’re not just blocking scam calls; we’re restoring trust in your phone network." – Alex Quilici

Privacy-first design isn’t a feature – it’s the foundation for solving real-world problems." – Alex Quilici

Listening to customers often leads to innovations you never expected – success comes from paying attention." – Jeff Mains

AI-driven scam prevention is a game-changer, but it’s also a responsibility we take seriously." – Alex Quilici

Guest Resources

Website - https://www.youmail.com/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexquilici/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/malibualex/

X - https://x.com/malibualex

Episode Sponsor

Small Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’

Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/

SaaS Fuel Resources

Website - https://championleadership.com/

Jeff Mains on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkmains/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jeffkmains

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesaasguy/

Instagram - https://instagram.com/jeffkmains

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy