Series A+ B2B SaaS companies face a critical decision when selecting a marketing partner: work with a traditional full-service agency or choose a specialized consultant who executes in the trenches with your team. Ironpaper, operating since 2002, has built a reputation as a mid-to-high tier B2B agency and HubSpot Diamond Partner. Yet their model—with extended onboarding periods noted in client reviews and custom pricing requiring sales conversations—may not align with fast-moving startups that need positioning assets and GTM execution in weeks, not months. This guide examines seven alternatives that serve B2B SaaS teams at different stages, starting with Genesys Growth's hands-on product marketing approach that delivers positioning, messaging, and launch assets with weekly turnaround and transparent pricing.

Key Takeaways

• Execution speed separates specialists from generalists: Genesys Growth delivers positioning sprints in 2 weeks versus what traditional consultants report as 2-3 month timelines for strategy development, critical for Series A+ companies facing fundraising or competitive windows

• Pricing transparency accelerates decisions: Genesys Growth, along with Kalungi and Refine Labs, publishes pricing—with Genesys at $15,000 for a 2-week sprint and $8,000-$12,000/mo for ongoing engagements—while many others require sales calls to understand costs

• Specialization depth matters for SaaS: Product marketing-focused consultants deliver deeper expertise for positioning and launches, while full-service agencies spread capabilities across ABM, paid media, and demand generation

• Direct access versus account manager layers: Working directly with a senior operator eliminates the telephone game between strategists and junior execution teams that slows traditional agency engagements

• 6-month TCO varies dramatically: Comparable engagements range from $75,000 with Genesys Growth to $270,000+ with full fractional CMO models like Kalungi

1. Genesys Growth: Hands-On Product Marketing for Series A+ SaaS

Genesys Growth provides hands-on positioning, websites, product launches, and content services exclusively for Series A+ B2B SaaS companies. Founded by Matteo Tittarelli, who has helped startups grow from $0 to $100M+ ARR including Fiverr, Owner.com, Common Room, Ahrefs, Toast, and Strapi, the consultancy operates on a principle of execution over advice.

Core Service Plans

Positioning Sprint delivers a complete product positioning framework in 2 weeks for $15,000:

• Win/loss analysis from sales calls

• Deep competitor research and ICP definition

• Positioning anchor strategy and messaging library

• Sales deck articulating positioning strategy

• Homepage wireframe with production-ready copy

Website Expansion Plan scales organic traffic and brand authority at $12,000/mo with a 3-month minimum:

• Context engineering covering ICP, product, market, and TOV

• Core pages: Home, Features, Pricing, About

• Solutions, Persona, Use cases, and Integrations pages

• Competitor comparison landing pages

• Ad-hoc landing pages for campaigns

Enablement Sprint empowers sales teams with consistent assets at $8,000/mo for 2 months:

• Sales deck copy articulating positioning

• Case studies created from call transcripts

• Competitor comparison pages and battle cards

• ROI calculator and other tools

Speed and Transparency Advantages

Genesys Growth's 2-week delivery model addresses a fundamental pain point with traditional agencies: the time from contract signature to working assets. While most agencies require extended onboarding periods, Genesys Growth delivers complete positioning sprints with messaging libraries and homepage copy within two weeks.

The fully transparent pricing model enables faster decision-making. Marketing leaders can evaluate budget fit and scope alignment without scheduling discovery calls or waiting for custom proposals.

Working Model

Every engagement includes:

• Weekly deliverable turnaround

• Always on-call access via Slack and email

• Direct work with Matteo Tittarelli—no junior account teams

• Output-based pricing tied to deliverables, not hours

Best For: Series A+ B2B SaaS companies needing fast product marketing execution, transparent pricing, and direct access to senior expertise. Ideal for teams preparing for fundraising, repositioning for new segments, or launching new products who can't wait months for results.

2. Kalungi: Full Outsourced Marketing Department for SaaS

Kalungi operates as a full-service B2B SaaS marketing agency offering fractional CMO leadership combined with execution teams. The agency works exclusively with B2B SaaS companies and has developed the T2D3 playbook for rapid SaaS scaling.

Service Structure

Kalungi offers two primary engagement models:

CMO Coaching at $6,500/mo provides strategic guidance:

• Regular advisory sessions

• Playbook access

• Framework guidance

Full-Service Engagement at $45,000/mo delivers complete marketing department capabilities:

• Fractional CMO leadership

• Full execution team

• Cross-channel marketing strategy

• Content, demand gen, and sales enablement

T2D3 Methodology

Kalungi's proprietary T2D3 playbook provides a structured approach to SaaS growth, focusing on tripling revenue in the first two years, then doubling for three consecutive years. This framework guides their strategic recommendations and execution priorities.

Engagement Considerations

• 3-6 month timeline to see meaningful results

• Significant investment at $45,000/mo for full-service

• Best suited for companies wanting to outsource entire marketing function

• Strong fit for teams without existing marketing leadership

Best For: B2B SaaS companies wanting to completely outsource their marketing department with fractional CMO leadership. Organizations with budget for $45,000+/mo who prefer a single-vendor solution over assembling specialized partners.

3. Directive Consulting: Performance Marketing for B2B Tech

Directive Consulting, founded in 2014, focuses on performance marketing for B2B SaaS and tech companies. The agency emphasizes a pipeline-first approach with strong attribution capabilities.

Core Capabilities

Directive specializes in paid acquisition channels:

• Paid search and paid social campaign management

• Account-based marketing programs

• Pipeline attribution and reporting

• Performance optimization

Performance Focus

Directive's Customer Generation methodology prioritizes pipeline impact over vanity metrics. Their approach connects marketing spend directly to revenue outcomes through sophisticated attribution modeling.

Engagement Model

• Packages start at $6,500/mo for startups, with larger scopes priced higher

• 30-60 day onboarding timeline

• Focus on paid media execution

• Custom pricing based on scope

Best For: B2B SaaS companies prioritizing paid acquisition performance and pipeline attribution. Organizations with established positioning and messaging who need expert management of paid search and social campaigns.

4. Refine Labs: Premium Demand Generation Strategy

Refine Labs, founded in 2019 by Chris Walker, has become a thought leader in modern B2B demand generation. The agency focuses on demand creation over demand capture, helping companies build brand affinity that generates pipeline.

Demand Creation Approach

Refine Labs developed the DEAL (Demand, Engage, Activate, Land) framework that challenges traditional lead generation models. Their approach emphasizes:

• Dark funnel attribution

• Demand creation content

• Brand-to-demand connection

• Modern buyer journey alignment

Target Market

Refine Labs positions itself for B2B companies investing in demand creation strategies. Their strategic focus means engagements tend toward advisory rather than hands-on execution.

Investment Level

• Starting at $31,000/mo

• Strategy-heavy engagement model

• Premium positioning in the market

Best For: Established B2B SaaS companies with significant budgets seeking demand generation thought leadership. Organizations ready to invest in premium strategic guidance and brand-building approaches.

5. SmartBug Media: HubSpot Elite Partner for Inbound

SmartBug Media, founded in 2007, operates as a HubSpot Elite Partner specializing in inbound marketing and revenue operations. The agency has received 200+ awards and maintains deep expertise in the HubSpot ecosystem.

HubSpot Ecosystem Depth

SmartBug's Elite Partner status represents the highest tier of HubSpot expertise:

• HubSpot CMS implementation

• RevOps configuration

• Marketing automation

• Sales enablement within HubSpot

Service Areas

• Inbound marketing strategy and execution

• Revenue operations optimization

• HubSpot implementation and migration

• Content marketing

• Website development on HubSpot CMS

Engagement Structure

• Custom pricing based on scope

• Strong fit for HubSpot-committed organizations

• 2-4 week implementation timeline

• Inbound-first methodology

Best For: B2B companies deeply committed to the HubSpot ecosystem seeking Elite Partner expertise. Organizations prioritizing inbound marketing and RevOps optimization within HubSpot infrastructure.

6. Bay Leaf Digital: Data-Driven SaaS Growth

Bay Leaf Digital, founded in 2013 and headquartered in North Texas (Grapevine, TX), provides analytics-first marketing for B2B SaaS companies. The agency emphasizes data-driven decision-making across SEO, PPC, and demand generation.

Analytics-First Approach

Bay Leaf Digital prioritizes measurement and optimization:

• Deep analytics implementation

• SEO and PPC management

• Funnel automation

• Data-driven optimization

Accessible Pricing

Bay Leaf offers accessible entry points for earlier-stage companies with custom pricing based on scope and services needed.

Service Focus

• SEO strategy and execution

• Paid search management

• Marketing analytics

• Demand generation

Best For: B2B SaaS companies prioritizing SEO/SEM performance with strong analytics foundations. Organizations seeking data-driven growth marketing at accessible price points.

7. New North: Integrated B2B Tech Marketing

New North, founded in 2008 and based in Frederick, Maryland, serves growth-stage B2B tech companies with multi-channel marketing campaigns. The agency focuses on integrated approaches that connect marketing activities to measurable outcomes.

Multi-Channel Execution

New North delivers integrated campaigns across:

• Content marketing

• Demand generation

• Brand development

• Digital marketing

Mid-Market Focus

New North positions itself for growth-stage B2B tech companies. Their integrated approach suits companies wanting coordinated execution across multiple channels.

Service Capabilities

• Multi-channel campaign management

• Content strategy and production

• Brand development

• Lead generation programs

Best For: Growth-stage B2B tech companies seeking integrated multi-channel marketing. Organizations wanting coordinated campaign execution with clear attribution across channels.

Why Genesys Growth Stands Out for Series A+ SaaS

The Execution Gap in B2B Marketing

Most B2B marketing agencies operate on a model designed for large enterprises: lengthy discovery phases, strategy documents, and gradual implementation over months. For Series A+ SaaS companies with compressed timelines and limited resources, this model creates friction.

Genesys Growth addresses this gap through three structural advantages:

2-Week Positioning Sprints

While traditional consultants deliver strategy documents that sit on shelves after what they report as 2-3 months of work, Genesys Growth produces working assets—messaging libraries, sales decks, and homepage copy—within two weeks. This speed matters when you're preparing for a funding round, responding to a competitor move, or launching into a new segment.

Transparent, Accessible Pricing

Genesys Growth publishes full pricing alongside Kalungi and Refine Labs—but at significantly more accessible entry points: $15,000 for a 2-week sprint versus $31,000/mo minimums. This transparency enables faster decision-making and budget planning. Marketing leaders can evaluate fit without scheduling discovery calls or waiting for custom proposals.

Direct Senior Access

Working directly with Matteo Tittarelli eliminates the layers between strategy and execution. There's no telephone game between senior strategists who understand your business and junior team members executing deliverables. Every asset benefits from the same expertise that shaped the strategy.

Six-Month TCO Reality

For a Series A SaaS company, a realistic 6-month comparison reveals significant cost differences:

• Genesys Growth: $75,000 ($15,000 positioning sprint + $12,000 × 5 months)

• Ironpaper: $75,000+ (custom pricing, typically comparable)

• Kalungi: $270,000 ($45,000 × 6 months)

• Refine Labs: $186,000+ ($31,000 × 6 months)

The TCO gap widens further when factoring in time-to-value. Genesys Growth's 2-week delivery means you're executing with new positioning while other agencies are still in discovery.

Trusted by Leading SaaS Companies

Genesys Growth has helped 45+ B2B SaaS startups worldwide, backed by investors including Y Combinator, Sequoia, and First Round Capital. The track record spans companies from early-stage to $100M+ ARR, demonstrating sustained value delivery.

For teams serious about accelerating GTM with clear positioning, Genesys Growth offers a proven path from strategy to execution in weeks rather than months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between a traditional B2B marketing agency and a fractional GTM consultant for SaaS companies?

Traditional agencies like Ironpaper offer broad service portfolios spanning ABM, demand gen, paid media, and sales enablement with team-based delivery models. Fractional GTM consultants like Genesys Growth focus on specific high-impact areas—positioning, launches, content—with direct senior access and faster execution. The choice depends on whether you need comprehensive coverage or specialized depth with speed.

How can B2B SaaS companies evaluate which Ironpaper alternative is best for their specific growth stage?

Series A companies typically benefit most from specialized product marketing consultants who can deliver positioning and messaging quickly at accessible price points. Series B+ companies with larger budgets may consider full-service options like Kalungi for complete marketing department outsourcing. Evaluate based on your most pressing need: positioning clarity, demand generation scale, or paid acquisition performance.

What role does AI play in modern B2B marketing and how can agencies or consultants leverage it for clients?

AI-powered workflows enable faster content production, competitive analysis, and programmatic SEO at scale while maintaining quality and brand voice. Genesys Growth integrates AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT into GTM workflows for significantly faster content production. Most traditional agencies have yet to develop systematic AI integration into their service delivery.

How important is specialized B2B SaaS experience when choosing a marketing or branding partner?

SaaS-specific experience directly impacts the quality and relevance of positioning, messaging, and content. Agencies with deep SaaS portfolios understand unit economics, PLG versus sales-led motions, and demand generation pipeline dynamics that generalist agencies may miss. Prioritize partners who can demonstrate relevant case studies and speak fluently about your market dynamics.

What should I look for in an agency or consultant's 'hands-on' approach?

A genuinely hands-on approach means working directly with senior practitioners rather than account managers who relay information to execution teams. Look for weekly deliverable cadence, real-time communication access via Slack, and clear accountability for who produces your assets. Ask specifically: "Who will create our deliverables?" and "How quickly can I get answers to questions?"