If you’re building a software company, few conferences should be higher on your list than the upcoming Business of Software Online Spring Conference. 

This remote version of Business of Software’s annual conference is happening on Monday, April 26 and Tuesday, April 27, 2021. Here’s everything you need to know about #BoS2021. 

What is the Business of Software Online Spring Conference?

This online conference brings together SaaS leaders for two days of learning and discussion. You won’t just be watching a stream, however. Unlike other remote conferences, you’ll be taking part.

Interactive discussions are at the heart of the conference, offering attendees the opportunity to discuss topics like growth, product, leadership and company culture with other industry leaders. Attendance is capped at 300 people, meaning no one gets lost in the crowd.

closeup of a microphone; Business of Software Online Spring Conference concept

What’s on the Agenda?

The conference features 10 interactive sessions, each of which will be led by an expert speaker and cover all of the topics a SaaS leader cares about. That includes:

  • Growth strategy.
  • Product management.
  • Company culture.
  • Leadership.

Each session will be a mix of talks, group exercises and discussions. Attendees will even have the opportunity to ask session leaders questions about their own business. 

What’s not on the agenda at BoS Conf Online Spring is just as important as what is. Like all BoS events, there are no overpaid celebrity speakers or sponsored talks. It’s purely actionable advice and discussions. Nothing else. 

Who is Speaking at the Business of Software Online Spring Conference?

SaaS thought leaders will be heading up each of the interactive sessions. While more speakers are to be announced, the following are confirmed to date:

Yodit Stanton

Yodit Stanton is the Founder and CEO at OpenSensors, an Internet of Things data aggregator. OpenSensors uses data to make sustainable workplaces a reality for every business. 

As a software and data engineer, Stanton has built and managed data systems for a number of FTSE500 companies like Deutsche Bank and Nomura.  

Stanton will lead a discussion on “The Future of Work and the Workplace” in which she’ll cover what workplaces will look like after the pandemic. It will discuss five themes:

  • Changing behavior.
  • Adaptability.
  • Self-direction.
  • Security.
  • Technology.

Joel Gascoigne

Joel Gascoigne is the cofounder and CEO at Buffer, a leading provider of social media tools. Since 2010, Gascoigne has grown Buffer to a remote team of nearly 100 people with an annual turnover in excess of $21 million. The company is completely distributed and practices a culture of transparency and employee happiness. 

Gascoigne is also an active angel investor and currently advises nine companies in the U.S. and Europe. His investments include CloudPeeps, a freelance talent management platform, inDinero, an outsourced accounting provider, and CloudApp, a screen recording SaaS. 

Sahil Lavingia

Sahil Lavingia is the founder and CEO of online sales platform Gumroad and a former employee (employee #2) at Pinterest.

Lavingia understands both sides of the venture-funded/bootstrapped coin. Gumroad initially took on angel and venture funding before moving from 25 employees to one. At that point, he decided to radically restructure the company’s purpose. Rather than trying to become a unicorn, Lavingia focused on building a lifestyle business. Since then, Gumroad has grown to $10 million MRR without any full-time employees. He documented his decision and subsequent journey on his website.

Lavingia will lead a session entitled “The Pros and Cons of Setting Your Own Goals as an Entrepreneur.” In it, he will discuss his pivot from a venture-backed startup to an independent business. He’ll also talk about what he’s learned about running a profitable business and how to grow without full-time staff.

Simon Wardley

Simon Wardley, Open Europe Fellow, startup advisor and researcher at Leading Edge Forum, is also the inventor of Wardley Mapping. A Wardley Map is a map of the structure of a business or service and shows the components it needs to serve customers. It’s the framework he created to answer the question, “Does this strategy make sense?”

Wardley will lead a session called “Mapping the Future for Your Business,” in which he’ll introduce the concept of Wardley Mapping to attendees and help them understand how these maps can be used to grow their businesses. 

professional woman on bed viewing a video conference on her laptop; Business of Software Online Spring Conference concept

The Business of Software Community

Business of Software describes itself as a “welcoming community of SaaS leaders.” Community is at the heart of everything BoS does. BoS Conf Online Spring is no different. With that in mind, the conference organizers have created four ways for attendees to connect with each other. 

  • “Coffee queue” chats that encourage chance encounters with people.
  • Group exercises during sessions where entrepreneurs can talk though questions together.
  • Breakout sessions during each interactive discussion where entrepreneurs can meet people interested in the same areas as them.
  • A dedicated Slack channel where attendees can organize their own meetings and breakout sessions.

BoS Conf Online Spring isn’t the only conference BoS is running this year. A fall version of their remote conference is scheduled for September 27-29 2021, giving you another opportunity to connect with SaaS professionals if you can’t make this one, or better yet, take part in two world class events.

Super early bird tickets are currently still available as are bundled tickets for both conferences.

Images by: CoWomen, david laws, Surface

Casey Meehan
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