Interview: How Seven Hills Technology Scales Through Relationships, Not Cold Outreach
Behind the Agency Podcast with Steve Hennigan, Chief Growth Officer at Seven Hills Technology
Watch
Prefer to skim? Below you’ll find key takeaways, quotes, and a blog-style breakdown of the episode.
TL;DR – Key Takeaways
Relationships over transactions: In custom software, trust and co-creation trump cold emails.
The process is the product: Seven Hills thrives when clients engage early, even before a formal scope exists.
Offline > online: Meetups and conferences remain their top-performing marketing channel.
Content is value-first: Steve leverages LinkedIn and thought leadership to warm the market—not pitch it.
Packaging with flexibility wins: Productized offerings (like design sprints) help explain value without boxing clients in.
Partnerships need to go both ways: They’re now targeting niche experts in AI, analytics, and gamification—not just general service firms.
Internal clarity matters: Growth started by defining their brand identity before ramping external outreach.
Play the long game: New biz in the agency space often takes a year or more to convert—and that’s normal.
Meet the Guest
Steve Hennigan is the Chief Growth Officer at Seven Hills Technology, a custom software consultancy based in Cincinnati. With a background in SaaS and a degree in marketing, Steve blends relationship-building with process design to create sustainable growth strategies. His approach prioritizes long-term value, strategic partnerships, and face-to-face collaboration.
🔗 Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
Episode Summary: What We Talked About
1. The Road to Seven Hills
Steve shares how a years-long industry friendship with Seven Hills’ leadership led to a natural transition into his new role. What started with mentoring interns and trading insights turned into a full-time opportunity.
“After 5 or 6 years of getting lunch and sharing ideas, it just made sense to finally join forces.”
2. Defining the Ideal Client
Not everyone is a fit. Seven Hills works best with teams that want to build software together, from scratch. They value whiteboard sessions, story mapping, and collaborative roadmapping—much more than a fixed spec.
“We love a blank canvas and a good idea. That’s where the best outcomes come from.”
3. Growth That Starts Offline
Steve’s playbook focuses on meetups, regional conferences, and organic brand-building. In an era flooded with AI-generated noise, real human connection still cuts through.
“This isn’t SaaS—we’re not chasing outbound metrics. We’re building brand equity and trust.”
4. The Push and Pull of Productization
Seven Hills is exploring how to package services like design sprints, while still leaving room for customization. It’s about creating entry points—not rigid constraints.
“It’s more about giving prospects clarity than boxing ourselves into a corner.”
5. Smarter Partnerships, Not More Partners
Instead of broad service-swaps, Steve is focused on working with experts in niche disciplines like AI and analytics. These collaborators enhance the agency’s strategic capabilities without bloating internal bandwidth.
“We want partners that make our delivery better—not just more complex.”
6. The First Step Is Internal Clarity
Before launching marketing campaigns, Steve spent his first month interviewing team members and aligning on brand identity. That groundwork now informs all positioning, outreach, and future growth bets.
“Everyone wants to go to market fast—but we had to define who we are first.”
7. Why Growth in Agencies Is So Hard
Steve opens up about transitioning from SaaS sales, where volume was king, into the slower-burn world of agency growth. It’s not about leads—it’s about quality conversations.
“This is a people business. If you're playing the short game, you’re probably not going to make it.”
Notable Quotes
“We live for those aha moments that only happen in a whiteboard session.”
“It’s not a numbers game—it’s about meeting the right people and adding value.”
“We’re not trying to be everything to everybody. That’s how you lose focus.”
“You need leadership that believes in the long game. Otherwise, it’s a tough business.”
Learn More / Get Involved
Interested in collaborating with Seven Hills? → Contact the team
Want More Interviews Like This?
Subscribe to the show on YouTube
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter
