Reza Saeedi

Hey, I’m Reza 👋 Currently calling Toronto home. Over the last decade, I've been leading growth and marketing at early-stage tech companies, from Seed to Series B, in both full-time and advisory capacities. As early-stage environments demand, I've had the opportunity to delve into a wide range of marketing areas. However, my primary focus has been on customer development, product marketing, building an experimentation pipeline, and devising strategic plans for long-term and sustainable growth. This multifaceted experience has provided me with a holistic understanding of the growth landscape and the ability to adapt to the ever-changing startup ecosystem. I'm currently leading growth at Passage, an early-stage platform on a mission to knock down financial barriers for studying abroad and immigration. Before Passage, I was part of the growth story at On Deck, helping the company scale from 60 to 320 employees. I joined as the third marketing hire and helped grow our team to more than 30 marketers. My superpower (and what really gives me energy) is being the early (or first) go-to-market hire, ready to navigate through the initial challenges and set the stage for long-term growth. Taking a leap of faith early in my career, I left a predictable engineering job to start my own company, embracing the startup rollercoaster. That decision marked the beginning of a journey. I haven’t looked back since. I have a passion for all things related to personal knowledge management, football ⚽️, fitness, and nutrition. My journey has taken me to four countries across Asia, Europe, and North America, enriching my life and career with diverse experiences. 📚 Favourite books: Man's Search for Meaning, Meditations, Four Thousand Weeks. ✈ Favourite destinations: Mexico City, Istanbul, Edinburgh, Rio.

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  Building a team

  Assembled global marketing and sales teams, from first hires to specialists in product, growth, and content marketing, for both remote and on-site roles.

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  Copywriting

  I’ve led the development of 20+ websites and their respective content optimized for engagement and conversion. I've also built high-converting outbound sequences tailored to target specific audiences, leveraging data-driven insights to maximize reach and conversion rates.

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  Go to market strategy

  Led the strategic go-to-market planning from the ground up for multiple startups, integrating customer insights, product positioning, and targeted marketing intiatives to drive startup growth and scalability.

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  Product marketing

  I've collaborated with early-stage teams, using audience insights and research to shape and launch products that find their place in the market, steering us towards product-market fit.

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  Circle

  7 years of experience

  I've used Circle as both a user and an admin in various capacities since its inception as one of the fastest-growing community tools, and an alternative to Slack.

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  Figma

  7 years of experience

  As a full-stack growth marketer, I've been leveraging Figma for the past 4-5 years, both for my personal projects and as the primary design tool for my team. Its versatility and collaborative features have made it an essential part of our creative workflow.

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  Substack

  7 years of experience

  As an early adopter, I've been leveraging Substack since its inception to publish and distribute my weekly newsletter. Despite the emergence of new competitors, Substack's evolution has kept it at the forefront of newsletter platforms. Its user-friendly interface and robust features continue to make it one of the most frictionless tools available for managing and growing a newsletter audience.

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  Webflow

  8 years of experience

  I'm an avid user and promoter of Webflow. It's one of the most robust website builders and content management systems I've used to date. And it keeps getting better. The no-code nature of it makes it an ideal choice for marketing teams to flexibly upgrade their website.

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  Asana

  9 years of experience

  Asana has been a go-to tool I've frequently recommended or seen adopted across marketing teams. In a crowded project management market, it stands out with its intuitive interface and robust features. Its flexible workflows and diverse viewing options (lists, boards, timelines) cater to various team needs. While there's a slight learning curve, Asana's long-term benefits in organization and efficiency make it a top choice for marketing teams seeking streamlined project management.

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  Google Analytics

  11 years of experience

  I've relied on Google Analytics for over a decade to gain crucial insights into web/app performance and user behavior. From its early days to the current GA4, I've witnessed its evolution firsthand. Despite occasional frustrations with interface changes, it remains an indispensable tool in my arsenal. Its depth of data, customization options, and integration capabilities have helped me and my team to make data-driven decisions and optimize marketing strategies across various campaigns.

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  Hubspot

  10 years of experience

  I've used Hubspot for marketing automation (as well as outbound sales) at several companies since 2017. On the automation side focused on landing pages, workflows, and email.

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  Notion

  9 years of experience

  I'm one of the early users of Notion for both personal and professional knowledge management. I've been keeping a lot of my second brain in Notion since then. It's been a joy to watch it grow and become more of a must-have over the years.

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  Education

  I've been involved in multiple Education startups, shaping and optimizing go-to-market strategies that lead to scalable and predictable revenue engines.

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  Fitness

  My passion for fitness and nutrition, ignited in my early twenties, has become a cornerstone of my life. This commitment to wellness has deepened over time, evolving from personal interest to professional focus. I've stayed current with health trends and scientific research, embracing holistic approaches to well-being. This enthusiasm shapes my career choices, as I prioritize advisory roles with organizations focused on building health and wellness solutions.