Daniel Saks graduated in 2008 with aspirations to follow in the family footsteps of running a furniture store established in 1908 by his great-great-grandparents. The store, located on Main Street in Niagara Falls, Canada, was a source of pride and identity for his family. However, when the Great Recession struck, the business faced insurmountable challenges, ultimately leading to its closure. Daniel attributed this failure to the lack of access to capital and modern technology, leaving him deeply aware of the pain points many entrepreneurs face.
A pivotal moment in Daniel's journey occurred when he visited his friend Nicolas Desmarais in San Francisco, where he attended the Web 2.0 conference. It was here that he discovered emerging technologies like crowdsourcing and what would soon evolve into SaaS. Inspired, he co-founded AppDirect, a marketplace aimed at helping businesses find, buy, and manage digital technologies that could have saved his family's store. Fast forward to today, AppDirect has generated over $1.5 billion in cumulative revenue, empowering millions of businesses around the world to transform and thrive digitally.
A significant lesson from Daniel's early experiences came from a software salesman named Rick Stark, who attempted to sell a furniture store ERP to his family when Daniel was just 12 years old. Initially skeptical, Daniel's grandfather was intrigued by Rick's approach during a dinner at a local restaurant. Understanding the challenges faced by furniture store owners, Rick demonstrated his selling prowess by recommending a new mattress to a waitress who clearly needed one due to her job's physical demands. Impressed, Daniel's grandfather decided to trust Rick and invested in the Profit Systems ERP, mortgaging the family's real estate to do so.
This experience left a lasting impression on Daniel: selling technology is fundamentally a deeply human endeavor. It requires not just trust but also a keen understanding of customer pain points. This belief is at the core of Landbase's mission.
The Power of Automation
At the heart of Landbase lies a commitment to simplifying the complexities of sales and marketing. By automating routine tasks, the platform saves users valuable time, enabling them to focus on strategic decision-making and relationship-building. This not only enhances productivity but also empowers business owners to pursue personal goals outside of work. "The goal is to transform the way businesses approach their go-to-market strategies," Saks explains. "With Landbase, we're providing the tools that allow individuals to take control of their time and resources, making it easier to balance both professional and personal aspirations."
Building the Life You Want
Saks understands that reclaiming one's day transcends mere efficiency; it's about building a fulfilling and enjoyable life. His passion for helping others is fueled by a desire to see individuals thrive in both their careers and personal lives. With Landbase, he envisions a future where business leaders can leverage Agentic AI to find harmony in their professional and personal pursuits.
As someone who enjoys outdoor activities with his family, such as skiing and hiking, Saks embodies the work-life balance he promotes. "Life is too short to be overwhelmed by your business," he emphasizes. "With the right tools, you can build the life you want without sacrificing your dreams."
More Than Technology
Beyond the technology itself, Landbase fosters a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and businesses. Saks believes that collaboration and shared insights are crucial for growth. He regularly engages with industry leaders and Fortune 500 executives, offering guidance on software distribution and cloud strategies. This commitment to mentorship and support helps create an ecosystem where businesses can learn from one another and thrive together.
As Landbase continues to evolve, Saks remains dedicated to his mission of helping others reclaim their day. With his rich background in entrepreneurship and a passion for innovation, he is poised to lead a movement that prioritizes efficiency without sacrificing personal fulfillment.
In a landscape where time is the most valuable commodity, Daniel Saks and Landbase are offering a path forward—one where technology empowers individuals to reclaim their lives and build the futures they envision. As he often says, "It's not just about working harder; it's about working smarter and living fully."
More on Daniel Saks and Landbase
Daniel Saks is the CEO and co-founder of Landbase. With a background in SaaS development and consulting for multiple Fortune 500 companies, Saks launched Landbase with a mission to help businesses transform their go-to-market strategies by harnessing machine intelligence and human performance. His previous endeavors include founding AppDirect, the leading subscription commerce platform for selling technology services. He frequently shares insights at industry conferences such as Web Summit and CogX and serves on the board of the McGill Principal's Advisory Board.
For more information on Saks, you can visit his LinkedIn profile.
For more information about Landbase, you can visit their website here.
