From Podcast Editor to SaaS CEO | Craig Hewitt, Founder & CEO of Castos

In this episode, Craig Hewitt discusses about his journey from running a podcast editing service to building a SaaS podcast hosting platform. They cover the challenges of transitioning from services to SaaS, customer retention in podcast hosting, pricing struggles, and scaling a SaaS business in a competitive market. Craig also shares insights into product development, hiring, and future plans for Castos.

About Craig Hewitt:

Craig Hewitt is the founder and CEO of Castos, a leading podcast hosting and analytics platform. He started his journey in podcasting with PodcastMotor, a productized podcast editing service, before expanding into SaaS by acquiring the Seriously Simple Podcasting WordPress plugin. Under his leadership, Castos has grown into a full-featured hosting platform, serving independent podcasters and brands. Craig also shares insights on entrepreneurship through his Rogue Startups Podcast and Founder Insights newsletter.

Here is what we cover:

• Craig’s Background & Castos' Growth – Started with Podcast Motor, acquired a WordPress plugin, and built Castos into a SaaS platform.
• Services to SaaS Transition – Services provided cash flow but were hard to scale; Castos still retains a services division (25-33% of revenue).
• TinySeed & Fundraising – Raised $750K, joined TinySeed, now profitable and self-sufficient.
• Podcast Hosting & Retention – Differentiates with UX/UI, WordPress integration, and strong support; low churn due to content retention.
• Challenges of Low-Priced SaaS – $19/month pricing limits growth, CAC vs. LTV constraints, hard to scale paid acquisition.
• Scaling & Product Development – Focused on UX, partnerships, and premium features; balancing speed vs. maintainability.
• CEO’s Role in Growth – Shifted focus to sales, marketing, and partnerships; leverages content marketing and SEO.
• Future of Castos – Expanding monetization options, integrating more content types, and strengthening its brand.