Partner1 Distinguished Expert Speaker Series
Partner1 Distinguished Expert Speaker Series
Podcast Description
Welcome to the Partner1 Distinguished Expert Speaker Series where we dive into the strategies, innovations, and visions that are shaping transformation in the world’s most dynamic industries today. This podcast series is designed to dive deep into actionable strategies, expert insights, and real-world success stories that help you, our audience, better understand how to stand out, partner more effectively with Microsoft, and drive impactful growth.
Partner1 is a trusted leader in helping Microsoft ISV and SI partners navigate the complexities of the Microsoft ecosystem, accelerating growth and unlocking new opportunities. Founded by former Microsoft executives, we have empowered hundreds of companies to succeed through strategic partnerships, co-selling, co-marketing, and more.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast delves into various themes including AI applications, partnership strategies with Microsoft, and industry-specific innovations. Episodes feature discussions on topics such as the evolution of AI in financial services, practical AI use cases, and strategic decision-making in technology investments, supplemented with expert insights and predictions on future trends.
The Partner1 Distinguished Expert Speaker Series brings together industry leaders to share actionable insights and strategies for driving growth and innovation through partner ecosystems. Each session features dynamic discussions and real-world case studies, providing exclusive access to expertise on co-selling, co-marketing, achieving designations, and standing out to sellers. This series is designed for Software and Solutions partners eager to scale their businesses and succeed in a competitive, AI-driven environment.
Presented by Partner1, the trusted growth advisor behind hundreds of high-performing B2B tech companies growing profitably and globally through partnerships.
In this episode of the Partner1 Distinguished Expert Speaker Series, we sit down with Yianni Touliatos on Microsoft’s Digital Natives team. Yianni shares his unique perspective on what it takes for high-growth startups to scale effectively within and beyond the Microsoft ecosystem.
We explore what defines a high-potential startup from Microsoft’s point of view, how founders can align with Microsoft’s commercial and technical priorities, and the critical role of cloud marketplaces in accelerating go-to-market success.
Whether you’re navigating hyperscaler partnerships for the first time or refining your ecosystem strategy, this episode offers tactical insights and practical guidance from someone who’s helped hundreds of founders accelerate through Microsoft.
Key Highlights Include:
- What Makes a Startup “High-Growth” in Microsoft’s Eyes: Yianni explains how Microsoft identifies promising startups and what qualities they look for before going deep with a partner.
- AI and Security as a Growth Catalyst: How high-growth startups are embedding AI and security into their core value propositions and how Microsoft is evolving its programs to meet the unique needs of AI-native and AI-powered secure startups.
- Beyond the Hype: Building Readiness for Ecosystem Success: The inside scoop on what startups need in place – from leadership to documentation – to succeed in co-sell and partner motions.
Accelerating Through the Marketplace: Yianni’s perspective on how startups can use Microsoft’s marketplace and pre-committed budgets to drive pipeline and partner-led growth.
From Founder Hustle to GTM Repeatability: Why product-market fit isn’t enough and what high-performing startups build into their GTM to scale through enterprise and partner channels.
Navigating Partnership Tradeoffs: Yianni’s honest take on the tension between speed and scale, and how founders can think about building with optionality in global cloud ecosystems.
Microsoft + Startup = More Than Just Credits: A look at how startups can align with Microsoft’s KPIs, drive meaningful outcomes, and create a multiplier effect through partnership.
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