Episode 52: How Jirka Bachel Raised $2.5M to Measure Engineering ROI in the AI Era
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What if engineering teams had the same level of performance visibility as sales teams?
In Episode 52 of Funded, Now What?!, Andrew Lee Miller sits down with Jirka Bachel, Founder & CEO of Navigara, to discuss how engineering leaders can finally measure AI ROI, developer productivity, and engineering performance using code-level analytics.
After raising $2.5M and growing Navigara to $1M ARR, Jirka shares how the company is helping organizations understand whether their AI investments are actually delivering results. The conversation also explores category creation, engineering leadership, startup fundraising, and Andrew’s latest playbook for GEO and AI-driven customer acquisition.
What You’ll Learn:
● Why engineering has historically lacked measurable KPIs
● How Navigara measures AI ROI through code analysis
● The creation of Engineering Throughput Value (ETV)
● Lessons from raising $2.5M and building a new software category
● Why AI search and GEO are becoming critical growth channels
● How founders can build authority in emerging markets
Featured Guest
Jirka Bachel Founder & CEO, Navigara
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jirka-bachel
About the Show
Funded, Now What?! is the world’s leading podcast for startup founders and growth leaders. Hosted by Andrew Lee Miller, the show explores how venture-backed startups scale after raising capital.
00:00 Introduction to Navigara and AI Investments
01:52 The Journey of Fundraising and Company Origins
04:39 Understanding the Need for Performance Metrics in Engineering
07:47 The Concept of ETV as a North Star Metric
10:42 Target Customers and Market Dynamics
13:35 Employee Engagement and Performance Recognition
16:24 Top-Down Approach in B2B Sales
19:23 Inbound Marketing Strategies and Content Creation
26:43 Building Links and SEO Strategies
27:51 Content Creation for AI and ROI Tracking
29:56 The Role of AI in Business Decision-Making
31:46 The Importance of Being Found in AI Searches
33:34 Pricing Strategies and Customer Engagement
35:46 Targeting Small vs. Large Companies
37:58 The Future of AI in Sales and Marketing
40:19 Innovative Approaches to Lead Generation
42:11 Networking and Building Relationships in Tech
48:04 Outbound Strategies for Generating Meetings
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