EP.34 - Early Bets and Big Gains in Dev Marketing with Rebecca Mosner
In this episode of Retained Trust, host Karl Hughes talks with Rebecca Mosner, co-founder of Maximize Partners, about the agency’s journey from a developer-focused content marketplace to a high-touch consultancy. Rebecca shares how she and her team 10x’d revenue in just four months, the challenges of educating technical founders on marketing value, and why they prefer working with early-stage startups over enterprise clients. They also explore hiring strategies, building a strong team culture, and how Maximize balances hands-on delivery with scalable growth. Tune in for a candid, detailed look at what it takes to grow a specialized digital agency.
Key Points From This Episode:
[00:00:00] Rebecca shares how Maximize Partners 10x’d revenue in four months.
[00:02:06] Her background at DigitalOcean and MongoDB and how it shaped her approach.
[00:05:21] Origin and evolution of Sponsored, a marketplace for developer content creators.
[00:08:27] Transitioning from a marketplace model to a full-service agency.
[00:11:58] Educating technical founders on the value of marketing.
[00:14:04] Marketing’s role in standing out in the crowded dev tools landscape.
[00:15:51] Why Maximize avoids long-term enterprise engagements.
[00:21:00] Leveraging VCs, networks, and reciprocity for client acquisition.
[00:24:23] Using non-spammy BDR outreach to grow pipeline via LinkedIn.
[00:27:56] Maintaining hands-on delivery and scaling via a vetted expert network.
[00:32:27] Long-term strategy for hiring and expanding the partner model.
[00:35:55] Rebecca on what keeps her motivated: great clients and a great team.
[00:39:44] The hardest parts: dealing with uncertainty and market timing.
[00:43:58] Books and media that shape Rebecca’s perspective (and what doesn’t).
[00:46:24] Goals for next year: hiring, scaling, and investing more in clients.
Links:
- Rebecca Mosner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-mosner/
- Maximize: https://maximize.partners/
- Karl Hughes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karllhughes
- Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant: https://thepodcastconsultant.com
