From Google Sheets to Scalable SaaS: How PayTrack Transformed Travel & Expense Management in LATAM
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đď¸ Featuring Pedro GĂłes, CEO of PayTrack | The Nearshore Cafe Podcast
In this episode, host Brian Samson speaks with Pedro GĂłes, CEO of PayTrack, a Brazil-based fintech that evolved from startup hustle to enterprise-level executionâgrowing from 20 to nearly 400 employees, largely without outside investment.
Pedro reveals how PayTrack built an all-in-one travel and expense management platform for medium and enterprise companies, combining travel booking, expense tracking, and corporate cards into a single integrated SaaS solution. The company didnât just survive the COVID-19 crisisâwhile competitors saw a 90% drop in revenue, PayTrackâs diversified model allowed them to pivot and support clients through shifting demands, including managing home-office expenses.
We dive into Pedroâs unique founder story, his insights on scaling under pressure, and his sharp advice for startup founders across Latin America.
đ§ Key Themes Youâll Hear:
⢠How PayTrack helps companies modernize expense workflows with an end-to-end solution
⢠Managing multi-currency challenges across Latin America
⢠Pivoting during COVID: from business travel to remote expense tracking
⢠Pedroâs rise from law school dropout to CEO after running seven departments
⢠Growing a nearly bootstrapped startup before securing a strategic investment from Riverwood Capital
⢠Navigating Brazilian business culture, taxes (~33%), and conservative venture capital
⢠Why Blumenauâs industrial roots helped create a thriving local tech ecosystem
⢠Pedroâs advice: Sales come first. Intelligence and infrastructure come second.
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Host: Brian Samson | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/
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Chapters
1. Introduction to PayTrack (00:00:00)
2. All-in-One Expense Management Solution (00:03:40)
3. Navigating Through COVID-19 Crisis (00:06:13)
4. Pedro's Journey to CEO (00:10:53)
5. Bootstrapping and Funding Story (00:18:34)
6. Entrepreneurship Challenges in Brazil (00:22:19)
7. Advice for Latin American Entrepreneurs (00:28:16)
64 episodes