What does it really take to go from a bootstrapped idea to a high-growth SaaS powerhouse? In this episode of Founders Only, we sit down with Alina Vandenberghe, co-founder and co-CEO of Chili Piper, to uncover the raw, unfiltered story behind building a category-defining company. From selling her house to fund the business to sketching MVP concepts on napkins at trade shows, Alina shares the sacrifices and bold moves that helped Chili Piper carve out its niche in the ultra-competitive B2B tech landscape.
Alina’s journey is anything but conventional. Growing up in Communist Romania, she learned early on that resilience and creativity weren’t just useful—they were necessary for survival. Those same traits fueled her transition from corporate tech leader to SaaS founder, where she and her co-founder (and husband) took on the challenge of solving one of the biggest pain points in B2B sales: inbound lead conversion. In this conversation, she breaks down how she validated her product-market fit, leveraged customer insights to refine Chili Piper’s go-to-market strategy, and balanced relentless growth with an unwavering commitment to company culture.
Whether you’re in the trenches of scaling your startup or just dreaming up your next big idea, this episode is packed with real-world lessons on building a business that lasts. Tune in to hear how Alina’s belief in a better way—both in business and in leadership—continues to drive Chili Piper’s success.