Why Most Startups Stall—and How to Reignite Revenue with Revenue Architecture Artwork

The Catching Fire Podcast

Any successful venture starts with great ideas, but it takes great marketing to make them stand out. In the Catching Fire Podcast, we delve into outstanding products and ideas that have gone to market and what it took to get there. Listen to conversations with inspiring startup founders and marketing leaders. Rethink your team’s approach to marketing in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Learn how to make your ideas “catch fire.”

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The Catching Fire Podcast

Why Most Startups Stall—and How to Reignite Revenue with Revenue Architecture

April 09, 2025 • Bryan Karas

When referrals dry up and your calendar's still full, it’s time for a new kind of growth.

In this episode of Catching Fire, fractional CMO and two-time CEO Maria Trysla shares her playbook for moving from founder-led to founder-inspired sales.

With stories from her time at Sprint, SaaS startups, and private equity-backed companies, Maria breaks down how to scale revenue without scaling stress. You’ll learn how to identify when your network is no longer enough, why retention and expansion often beat acquisition, and how aligning product, marketing, and customer success can spark explosive growth.

Whether you’re an early-stage founder or growing a lean team, this episode is packed with practical insights, honest reflection, and a framework to help you scale smarter.

Connect with Maria: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariatrysla/

Connect with Bryan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankaras/

https://bryankaras.com/

Looking for quality digital marketing talent? Connect with Bryan's team at GrowTal. https://www.growtal.com/

Looking to solve your toughest marketing challenges? Connect with Bryan's team at Playbook Media. https://www.playbookmedia.com/