How I Made $120K in MRR With AppSumo Tools: Taylor Hersom Case Study

At AppSumo, we’re here to empower entrepreneurs with digital tools that are so good, they’ll make your jaw drop. In this case study, you’ll hear the inside scoop from one of our favorite customers-turned-lifetime-fan.

We’ll give you an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at his businesses, uncover what makes him tick, and share how AppSumo has helped take his business to a whole new level.

Meet Taylor Hersom from Eden Data

This week, we talked to Taylor Hersom, the founder of a cybersecurity and data privacy consulting firm that’s disrupting the tech industry. His company, Eden Data, manages all aspects of a cybersecurity tech stack for budding startups using a subscription-based business model.

When Taylor first started Eden Data, he’d retired from his fast-tracked “Big 4 firm” lifestyle after realizing there was nowhere else to go but to the CEO spot. He was already one of the youngest Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) in the industry at his firm, but he knew he was meant for something bigger.

Taylor decided that if he really wanted to test out his CISO chops and his own potential, entrepreneurship was the best path forward for him. Just one year later, Taylor and Eden Data are bringing in $120K in monthly recurring revenue and have high growth projections expected later this year.

How Taylor found AppSumo

It’s probably no surprise, but the legacy tools and products that exist in the cybersecurity world can feel a little, well…slow for a fast-paced tech startup. So when it came time for Taylor to source tools for the Eden Data app stack, he knew he needed to find solutions that performed better than what was currently on the market.

Taylor found AppSumo while listening to an episode of Sam Parr and Shaan Puri’s podcast, My First Million, and decided to see what all the buzz was about. He’d been wracking his brain for months to try and find a one-stop shop for tech solutions that were industry-endorsed and didn’t make his startup feel like it needed a dial tone.

What he found was even better than what he could have imagined. Taylor browsed the AppSumo marketplace and immediately tried out a new app that had a lifetime deal. From there…he was hooked. Taylor would later source the majority of Eden Data’s tech stack using technology he purchased through the AppSumo marketplace.

Stop waiting for technology to catch up with you

One of the challenges of founding a company that values innovation is that you’re always waiting for technology to catch up with you. And for a tech founder, it’s hard to know whether a new product or tool is high-quality or all sizzle and no steak.

But that’s what makes AppSumo different. According to Taylor, the AppSumo marketplace has been the secret sauce for Eden Data. Not only is it instrumental to finding great deals, but it’s also been his go-to source for discovering cutting-edge tech solutions and knowing what’s up-and-coming in the software space.

“I now have a way to source apps that are new to the market and hella innovative at solving our customers’ problems, all while creating a unique experience for every touchpoint at Eden Data.”

 

One way that Taylor’s been able to help his customers is by solving their often unique and complex problems using the solutions that Eden Data builds. In fact, one of Eden Data’s clients just made history by securing $62 million in funding—the most to ever be awarded to a fertility startup. On top of that, this company is also planning on doubling in size over the next year.

But if you ask Taylor what his favorite thing is about AppSumo, it’s the amount of choice. The sheer range of high-quality software available through the marketplace makes it easy for anyone to find the right tool for their needs. Taylor says he is genuinely impressed with our ability to negotiate so many incredible deals on apps and software that he would have never known about without AppSumo. 

What do you do with all the savings?

An added bonus? The cost savings he’s found have also given him more money to reallocate to his employees and new business initiatives.

Taylor defines success not just in his $120K in monthly recurring revenue or in the amount of profit that’s pumped into the business, but also in how he’s available to provide for his team.

For him, it’s a whole new level of accomplishment to step back and realize that his business not only supports his family but also many others. Some of his employees’ recent personal milestones include buying a house and introducing a baby into their family.

Taylor is also keen on making sure that he stays ahead of the curve in nearly every area of his life as a founder. That also includes how he spends his time.

“I know we’ve all heard the phrase ‘time is money,’ but I didn’t know how true that was until I became an entrepreneur,” Taylor says.

He swears he could put in a full 24-hour workload and not even scratch the surface of all of the tasks he needs to get done. That’s why Taylor has also invested in automated systems and processes—both internally and client-facing—so he can give his team back as much time as humanly possible.

“Our investments through AppSumo have vastly improved our efficiency, visibility, onboarding, and client experience.”

 

Taylor’s been able to take menial tasks like posting to social media, running an email campaign, or managing a big client project and either automate them completely or vastly streamline them. His secret? AppSumo.

“I can’t put a dollar amount on the ROI we’ve experienced through investing in AppSumo, but I would strongly consider offering my firstborn child as repayment,” says Taylor.

Taylor’s favorite tools on AppSumo

So, what are some of Taylor’s favorite tools he’s found on AppSumo? He’s started using the email signature builder, Scribe, to transform employee emails as a new touchpoint for customers. Eden Data has also done away with the project management tools of the past and now runs on NiftyPM.

Eden Data also runs on client testimonials. After searching far and wide for a new way to capture them, Taylor was introduced to WarmWelcome by AppSumo. It’s a simple, yet powerful software that allows Taylor and his team to connect with clients and grab video testimonials for a more human touch.

And we can’t forget about social media! Publer has made it easy for Eden Data to automate social media with scheduling and easy collaboration.

Taylor says he looks to AppSumo as an example to emulate for Eden Data. He loves our approach to the market, the clarity of our branding, and how personal our messaging feels. He says that being actively involved in the AppSumo environment has helped him gather dozens of ideas that will translate into the success of his own company.

He’s used AppSumo as a benchmark for his future success and plans to get to AppSumo’s  $100 million level in the next three years. (Celebration tacos are on us, Taylor.)

So what’s on the horizon for Taylor Hersom and Eden Data? He says they are tirelessly working to think outside of the box of convention. Taylor wants to get to the point where every client says that they want “the Eden Data experience.” And of course, he plans on taking AppSumo along for the ride.