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Travata

by Brett TurnerLaunched 2016via The SaaS Podcast

Travata is an enterprise SaaS platform for automated cash management, forecasting, and visibility founded by serial entrepreneur Brett Turner in 2016. After a grueling 2.5-year discovery and development phase betting that banks would release APIs for corporate treasury (which they eventually did), Turner launched the product and grew it to $10M ARR with 200+ customers and ~100 employees over 4 years, with ~$58-60M raised and JP Morgan as an early institutional investor and referral partner.

Key Takeaways

  • Used partnerships as primary growth channel
  • Reached product-market fit in Approximately 2.5 years of discovery and product development before market launch; 4 years in market at time of interview with 200+ customers
  • Got first customer via Direct sales to early adopters at tech companies (like Square) who were forward-thinking about treasury innovation, supported by bank referrals and introductions from influential figures like Tim Murphy (Square's treasurer) and Jason Bristo (Amazon's treasurer).
  • Most effective channel: Direct sales combined with bank referrals and partnerships; bank referrals became increasingly important over time but direct sales remained primary.
  • Built initial product in 2.5 years before launch (discovery phase plus product development and waiting for bank APIs)

Revenue

Current ARR$10.0M

Traction

First Customer ChannelDirect sales to early adopters at tech companies (like Square) who were forward-thinking about treasury innovation, supported by bank referrals and introductions from influential figures like Tim Murphy (Square's treasurer) and Jason Bristo (Amazon's treasurer).
Most Effective ChannelDirect sales combined with bank referrals and partnerships; bank referrals became increasingly important over time but direct sales remained primary.
Outreach MethodCold outreach leveraging college alumni networks and personal networks; leveraging credibility from prior exits; pitch to VCs on Sand Hill Road pre-product to validate thesis; deep discovery conversations with treasury professionals, CFOs, and VCs.
Time to PMFApproximately 2.5 years of discovery and product development before market launch; 4 years in market at time of interview with 200+ customers
Traction Patternpartnerships

Tech

Dev Duration2.5 years before launch (discovery phase plus product development and waiting for bank APIs)
Tools Used
JP Morgan APIWells Fargo APIBank of America APISOC 2 compliance

Why They Built It

Brett observed that cash management and forecasting in enterprises was still done through spreadsheets and manual processes. After tracking digital transformation trends and seeing fintech innovation on the consumer side, he believed the enterprise treasury space was ripe for innovation and automation—something that hadn't happened in 20 years.

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