What It Takes to Build Multiple SaaS Companies with Multiple Teams simultaneously – Part 2

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build Software as a Service (SaaS) companies? And not just one SaaS company with one team, but multiple SaaS companies with multiple teams at the same time? Then this is for you. Today we are talking to our Lead Software Engineer at betascale Labs, Bleron. In this interview, he talks about the challenges he faces on a daily basis, shares what leadership and company culture mean to him, the importance of mentors in software development, and what advice he would give to aspiring software engineers. But the interview doesn’t stop there: Bleron also shares his approach towards a healthy work-life balance, his future career goals, and what message he would write on a billboard for millions of people to see.

This is part 2 of a 3-part interview series. In the first part, we looked at the challenges Bleron faces on a daily basis and how he deals with them. In part 2, we will now explore what leadership means to him and which values are of particular importance to him when it comes to shaping team dynamics.

Bleron

Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead at betascale Labs

Bleron is 27 years old and was born in Prishtina, Kosovo. His professional career started in 2017 as a Full Stack Developer at ProxiBay, which was fundamental for him as this role allowed him to gain hands-on experience in software development for almost three years. In early 2020, he then joined Incodeks, this time as a Software Engineer, where he deepened his expertise by working on various projects that expanded his technical skills. These two stations finally led him to betascale Labs in January 2023, where he has been working as Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead ever since. In this role, Bleron currently leads three projects: Acquify, gut geregelt and Widgetino.

Leadership

In part 1, we talked about the challenges that come with building multiple Software as a Service (SaaS) companies with multiple teams simultaneously. Now, what leadership qualities and skills would you say are particularly important for success in your role as Senior Software Engineer and Team Lead?

Effective leadership in my role requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account various factors that significantly influence others. It is essential to be highly communicative and to ensure clear and open channels of dialog within the team. An important aspect of my leadership skills is to encourage and develop my team members, helping them to grow and excel in their roles. This combination of effective communication and commitment to the development of team members is critical to successful outcomes and creating a positive and productive team environment.

How do you balance your roles and ensure that you actively contribute to the work of the team on the one hand and provide leadership and guidance on the other?

To maintain balance in my roles, it’s crucial to ensure that each team member feels comfortable and supported in their working environment and the tasks assigned to them. It is important to constantly assess whether we are on the right track, both in terms of development and leadership management. This approach helps to contribute effectively to the work of the team while providing the necessary leadership and guidance.

Can you share an example of a challenging team situation you’ve successfully navigated?

Sure. One notable situation involved working on three different SaaS companies at the same time. This required a significant daily effort for each company, which posed a considerable challenge in terms of time management and resource allocation. Strategic planning and excellent teamwork helped to manage this situation successfully.

Strategic planning and excellent teamwork help to successfully navigate challenging situations.

How do you empower your team members to take ownership of their work and contribute innovative ideas?

By actively encouraging my team members and highlighting their achievements at the end of each sprint when they have achieved their goals. I encourage my team by giving them the opportunity to contribute ideas for each new feature request. This approach not only fosters a sense of ownership of their work, but also encourages them to be innovative and engaged in the development process.

How do you decide when and what to delegate to team members, and how do you build trust in your team to handle delegated tasks effectively?

Building trust within the team stems from long-term collaboration that fosters a strong sense of mutual understanding and reliability. When it comes to delegating tasks, decisions are made based on the technical profile of each team member to ensure that tasks are assigned to the people best suited to them. This approach not only optimizes task allocation, but also builds trust as team members are assigned tasks that match their knowledge and skills.

I actively encourage my team members and highlight their achievements at the end of each sprint when they have reached their goals.

Company Culture

You have a really clever approach to leadership! What about the company culture: How do you foster a collaborative and productive team environment?

Fostering a collaborative and productive team environment also relies on encouragement. By promoting a positive and supportive atmosphere, we avoid toxicity and enhance team productivity. This approach is fundamental in creating a cohesive and effective team dynamic.

What values are particularly important to you in shaping the dynamics of your teams?

Encouragement, support and recognition of achievements are among the most important values in shaping the dynamics of our teams in order to maintain motivation and a positive environment. Trust and collaboration are key and are developed through understanding individual capabilities and effective delegation of tasks. We also place a strong emphasis on ownership and innovation and encourage our team members to take ownership of their work and contribute ideas. Finally, adaptability and strategic planning are essential to overcome challenges and diverse project requirements and ensure a productive team.

By fostering a positive and supportive atmosphere, we avoid toxicity and enhance team productivity.

How do you reward the great performance of your teams?

By offering promotions and raises, such as when someone moves up from an intern to a junior role or from junior to mid-level position. This approach is not only a recognition of their efforts, but also a tangible reward that encourages the continuous growth and development of the team.

Can you tell us about a particularly successful company?

betascale itself is a success story, but one particularly successful SaaS company I can highlight is the development of Widgetino with two internships. This company stands out as a testament to our team’s capabilities and collaborative spirit and demonstrates the significant contributions and potential of our interns in achieving remarkable outcomes.

Widgetino is a testament to our team’s capabilities and spirit of collaboration. It shows the tremendous efforts and potential of our interns to achieve impressive results.

What makes the betascale Labs team special?

What sets the betascale Labs team apart is the remarkable blend of hard work, humor and collaboration that each team member brings to the table. This unique combination creates an extraordinary work environment where dedication and camaraderie go hand in hand. This is what makes the team truly special.

What do you expect from new team members?

I expect them to integrate into our team and demonstrate their knowledge. This involvement is key to understanding their capabilities and how they can contribute to our collective goals.

What sets the betascale Labs team apart is the remarkable blend of hard work, humor and collaboration that each team member brings to the table.

This wraps up part 2 of this 3-part interview series. Stay tuned for the last part, in which Bleron provides valuable advice for aspiring software engineers, how he maintains a healthy work-life balance, and last but not least, what message he’d put on a billboard for millions of people to see.

About betascale

The future is not shaped by dreamers nor managers. But by doers. betascale unites doers from the entrepreneurial, corporate and financial worlds and supplies them with what they need, when they need it. From idea to exit.