Chopcast closes 5-figure enterprise pilot in <90 days +57 discov. calls
A bonafide.fm case study (June 2025)
Results summary
- 1st 5-figure enterprise pilot deal closed in <90 days
- 93% prospect-to-discovery call conversion rate with executives
- 35% warm referrals to executives generated
The reality check
Chopcast, a 10-person B2B content startup, was struggling with the classic early-stage problem. They could build great solutions, but getting C-level executives to take their calls was nearly impossible. Cold outreach got <0.03% response rates. Targeted LinkedIn DMs disappeared into their cluttered inboxes.
They had all the standard sales tools - Sales Navigator, HubSpot CRM, Apollo. But none solved the fundamental challenge: how do you build genuine relationships with executives who get pitched 50 times a week, and do so predictably?
The strategy: Give, give, give.
Instead of pitching executives, we invited them to share their expertise. The insight was counterintuitive but brilliant: feature their stories, not ask for their money.
1 - Intelligence: Clay.com dynamic account and contact scoring build
First, I identified C-level executives at companies matching their ICP. I used custom intent signals to score accounts and decision makers within them. Then, instead of sales pitches, we sent interview invitations designed to spotlight their achievements.
Kareem shared a sobering insight that execs hate being sold to but LOVE sharing their stories. The original series concept gave us a reason to reach out that felt valuable to them too. It reinvented how we now build net new enterprise pipeline . – Aamen M. / CEO @ chopcast.io
Some of the things implemented included:
• Value-first outreach - Interview invitations, not sales pitches • Pro interview process - High-quality conversations executives were proud of • Expert positioning - Made prospects the hero in their industry, not chopcast • Natural conversation flow - Business discussions emerged organically • Strategic referrals - cross referring other ICPs skipping cold outreach entirely
This helped chopcast build genuine relationships with decision makers who actually wanted to talk to them out of both need and reciprocity combined.
2 - Influence : LinkedIn personal branding through clips, carousels, and text posts
Next, chopcast turned each interview into relationship currency. Every conversation became multiple touchpoints that showcased guest expertise while building mutual credibility. Chopcast shared them alongside our guests to build up their star.
- Professional episode production that guests were proud to share
- Social media clips highlighting guest insights
- LinkedIn posts celebrating guest expertise
- Cross-promotional content that expanded our reach through guest networks
- Thank you campaigns that kept relationships warm
- Strategic content scheduling that maintained consistent visibility
The house party effect
Even though several posts went viral crossing 100-200 likes and comments, the goal was never virality. It was building a platform that made executives look good while establishing chopcast as trusted connectors for our niche, the 'party host' of the conversation by featuring great minds and having them refer their peers.
The results
These numbers highlight the impact of the campaign.
- 57 discovery calls from 61 interviews – Nearly every executive we interviewed wanted meaningful conversations beyond the show episode.
- 100% network expansion - Every single conversation added valuable connections to our professional network.
- 21 organic enterprise referrals without cold outreach – Without systematic optimization, 30% of guests referred other potential prospects or opportunities.
- 1st enterprise deal closed in <90 days with a company with $104M annual turnover.
It got us meetings with coveted leaders where other outreach methods failed and it drove revenue for us in a repeatable and predictable way . – Aamen M. / CEO @ chopcast.io
How a relationships engine drives revenue
Most founders believe there's a trade-off between relationship building and scalable sales processes. Using the podcast approach, Chopcast proved you can systematize both. Here's why that matters:
Executives love sharing expertise. When you position them as the expert rather than the target, response rates skyrocket. Instead of another sales pitch, you're offering them a platform to showcase their knowledge.
Relationships accelerate everything. That enterprise deal moved faster because trust was already established. When prospects know you and have had meaningful conversations with you, selling becomes natural.
Content creates compound returns. Each episode became marketing content, social proof, and relationship currency. Guests shared the content with their networks, expanding our reach exponentially.
Network effects multiply opportunities. Every conversation led to potential referrals and introductions. One relationship created multiple business opportunities.
Ready to build systematic C-level relationships?
If you're tired of cold outreach getting ignored, if you want to build genuine relationships with executives who actually want to talk to you, this systematic approach works.