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 InnovationTweetable 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 QuiliciGuest Resources Website - https://www.youmail.com/ Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexquilici/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/malibualex/ X - https://x.com/malibualexEpisode 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