For the fifth episode of the “Sweat, Tears and Equity” podcast, our host, Sorin Bădulescu sat down with Ciprian Cazacu, the CEO and co-founder of EasySales – a “no code” platform that integrates important eCommerce systems in one place, used by all online merchants who want to be present on multiple marketplaces.
In this article, we cover three of the most interesting insights that Ciprian shared regarding teams, management, the ever-evolving nature of SaaS, and the many paradoxes regarding Romanian founders and the Eastern European region in general.
Let’s dive into the three key lessons that stood out:
- On decision-making, hiring the right people and mixing family and business
Compared to other young overly-optimistic founders, who think they’re better off alone, Ciprian knew from the beginning that he couldn’t do it all by himself. He quickly realized that a diverse leadership team isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential. “We have a top management team, which includes me, my brother, another two from the company, a CRO managing sales, and a CEO managing operations,” Ciprian explains.
This isn’t just about filling seats. It’s about bringing different perspectives to the table. When making decisions that could make or break your startup, you want as many informed viewpoints as possible.
Ciprian’s approach? “We discuss the ideas we have, or it depends on the project we want to pursue. We consider the good and bad, and in the end, I decide which one is better or not. However, each one participates with their opinion and the points they want to tackle.“
Even more, you need to know your limitations when hiring, to be able to fill the gaps. “It’s very important, especially in areas where you are not feeling confident or are not an expert, to find the right people to execute tasks. Otherwise, it could become a significant problem for you.”
Mixing family with business is often seen as a recipe for disaster. But Ciprian’s experience with his brother shows it’s not always the case.
“Working with my brother has its goods and bads,” Ciprian admits. “I wouldn’t say that you shouldn’t do business with your family. It depends on the type of the family and the temperament of the people; it’s not straightforward.”
The secret ingredient here is a solid foundation of love, trust, and respect. As Ciprian puts it, “In our case, because of the education we received from our parents and our family, we love each other. If we have different perspectives, in the end, I will be there for him, he will be there for me, and even if we have different opinions, we’ll take the best approach.”
2. On the ever-evolving nature of SaaS and staying up-to-date with the latest technologies
In the world of SaaS, standing still is the same as moving backward. Ciprian knows this all too well. His team is constantly iterating, improving, and expanding their product offering. It’s part of their core values.
“The biggest advantage of a SaaS is that it’s like a living organism, constantly improving. First and foremost, when you subscribe to our service, our job is to always improve the product. “
This isn’t just about adding shiny new features. It’s about staying relevant in a market that moves fast. One day you’re the hot new thing, the next you’re
yesterday’s news. Unless, of course, you keep evolving.
One of Ciprian’s examples is ChatGPT. The only difference is that they started experimenting with it before it was as popular as it is now.
“We saw the potential of ChatGPT and knew we had to integrate it,” Ciprian explains. “It’s not about jumping on a bandwagon. It’s about leveraging cutting-edge tech to solve real user problems.”
This move isn’t just smart—it’s essential. In a world where AI is transforming every industry, SaaS companies that don’t adapt risk becoming obsolete.
3. On the characteristics of Romanian founders, the paradoxes around them, and the potential for global expansion
During the podcast, Ciprian also shares a bit from his professional journey, before founding EasySales with his brothers. “I’m also a developer,” he shares. “My trajectory in life was completely different. Initially, I was a programmer, then moved into consultancy.” The latter period also overlapped with his beginnings as a founder. A period that was not easy, but brought him to where he is today. “It builds resilience,” he said.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Despite this resilience, there’s a paradox at play in the Romanian tech scene. “Romanians are incredibly talented,” Ciprian observes. “But we’re not courageous enough.”
It’s a sentiment echoed across Eastern Europe. The technical skills are there—Romania is famous for its programmers—but the entrepreneurial spirit sometimes lags. This might be due to many different factors, but recent history and geopolitics play a role in this cultural characteristic of ours.
And here’s another paradox – Ciprian says that Romania is “the most American country in the region”, which makes it easier for Romanian founders to expand to different geographies. Why? Because we know how to adapt.
One of the biggest challenges when expanding, he says, is to understand the buyer personas in each country, and understand their pain points. When you’ve always been an outlier, it’s easier to understand different perspectives and adapt accordingly.
Have you found these insights interesting?
Click the image and check out the full conversation with Ciprian Cazacu in the latest episode of our podcast – Sweat, Tears and Equity
