Scaling is not just about selling more. It is about knowing when the business is truly ready to grow.

In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Mark Roberge, Co-Founder & Managing Director at Stage 2 Capital, who shares lessons from helping HubSpot scale from its earliest days to IPO, including why founders often mistake early sales traction for true readiness to scale. He also discusses the role of product value, go-to-market strategy, venture capital, AI, fast-follower opportunities, and his decision to donate the book's proceeds to support mental health.

Key Takeaways:

→ Product value should take precedence over aggressive revenue growth.

→ The startup ecosystem needs greater discipline in revenue growth.

→ AI is creating major opportunities and societal challenges.

→ Fast followers often outperform first movers in the long run.

→ Founders need frameworks for scaling, not just ambition.

Mark Roberge is a Co-Founder at Stage 2 Capital, the first venture fund supported by over 1,000 top sales and marketing executives. Stage 2 has invested in more than 100 startups, helping founders with proven revenue growth strategies and experienced go-to-market leaders to accelerate their growth. He has also been a member of the teaching faculty at Harvard Business School for over a decade, designing and leading courses on sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship, mentoring thousands of student entrepreneurs, and engaging deeply with the challenges of early-stage growth. Before these roles, Mark was the fourth employee and founding CRO at HubSpot, where he built and scaled the go-to-market organization from zero revenue to a successful IPO, pioneering a data-driven, buyer-centric sales model that has since influenced go-to-market teams worldwide.

Connect With Mark:

Website: https://www.stage2.capital/

X: https://x.com/markroberge

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markroberge/

Most business owners do not lose control all at once. They lose it slowly, one missed number, one poor structure, and one reactive tax decision at a time.

In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Peter Holtz, President of Peter Holtz CPA, who explains why traditional once-a-year accounting often leaves owners overpaying taxes, missing deductions, and making last-minute decisions that undermine long-term growth. He also explains how proactive planning, accurate books, smart business structure, margin awareness, and the right advisory team can help entrepreneurs regain control and build stronger, more profitable businesses.

Key Takeaways:

→ Business owners need proactive tax planning, not year-end panic attacks.

→ Accurate books are the foundation for better tax decisions.

→ The wrong business structure can cost owners money.

→ A good CPA should do more than fill out boxes on a tax return.

→ Tax strategy should align with the owner's, business's, and family's goals.

Peter Holtz is a seasoned CPA, entrepreneur, and tax strategist who helps business owners keep more of what they earn through proactive, year-round tax planning. With more than 20 years of experience, including time in Big 4 accounting and CFO roles for multiple companies, Peter has seen how traditional, once-a-year accounting often leaves business owners overpaying and underprepared.

After recognizing the need for a more strategic approach, Peter built multiple eight-figure accounting firms designed to help business owners outsmart the IRS without relying on aggressive loopholes or unnecessary risk. He works with owners earning $500K to $10M+ to reduce taxes, protect wealth, and turn their CPA relationship into a true profit center.

Connect With Peter:

Website: https://peterholtzcpa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterholtzcpa/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PeterHoltzCPA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peterholtzcpa

https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-holtz/

What if the reason your marketing isn’t working has nothing to do with your ads?

In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Shamir Duverseau, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Smart Panda Labs, who explains why the post-click experience is the most overlooked yet critical part of the marketing funnel, especially for high-consideration purchases. He shares how aligning teams, applying behavioral psychology, and improving digital experiences after the click can dramatically increase conversions and overall performance.

Key Takeaways:

→ Most marketing budgets are spent before the click.

→ Trust must be established immediately after the click.

→ Relevance is the first requirement for engagement.

→ Enterprise marketing challenges are often people problems.

→ Managing stakeholders is as important as managing strategy.

Shamir Duverseau is a cofounder and Managing Director at Smart Panda Labs, a technical marketing agency for enterprise BwC brands. Throughout his career, he has worked across industries, including travel, entertainment, and technology, with brands such as Southwest Airlines, The Walt Disney Company, and NBCUniversal. Over the past 25+ years in marketing, Shamir has held leadership roles overseeing product management, digital strategy, user experience design, web development, testing, and web analytics. Before joining Smart Panda Labs, Shamir was the Senior Director of Digital Strategy and Services for Marriott International’s Vacation Club Division.

Connect With Shamir:

Website: https://smartpandalabs.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartpandalabs

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-panda-labs/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@smartpandalabs7668