Benjamin Douablin: From French Special Forces to Co-Founding FullEnrich

Building FullEnrich: Vision and Leadership

Benjamin Douablin, co-founder and CEO of FullEnrich, brings an unconventional background to the B2B data enrichment space.

With experience in French special forces and eight years in B2B sales leadership, Douablin has built FullEnrich into an AI-powered aggregator that’s revolutionizing how companies access verified contact data.

In this exclusive interview, he shares insights on leadership under pressure, raising €1.9 million in just two weeks, and why usage-based pricing is the future of SaaS.

From Special Forces to SaaS: Leadership Under Pressure

How did your military experience shape your approach to entrepreneurship and leadership?

Absolutely. Being in the special forces definitely shaped me. It taught me discipline, how to operate under extreme stress, and how to make quick decisions in high-risk environments. It also instilled a strong sense of teamwork, working alongside top-performing individuals.

I learned to embrace chaos, which is something entrepreneurs often face on a daily basis. That experience gave me a deep understanding of resilience and efficiency — two qualities that are foundational in how I operate as a founder.

Solving the Data Enrichment Coverage Problem

What specific challenges in data enrichment led you to create FullEnrich, and how does it differentiate from other solutions?

Before FullEnrich, I spent eight years in B2B sales roles and as CEO of another international SaaS company. We tried almost every data enrichment solution on the market and were never fully satisfied. The problem was clear: no single provider offered truly global and reliable coverage.

That’s why we built FullEnrich as an aggregator — not a data owner. We connect to multiple providers and layer verification mechanisms on top of each one. This gives us unmatched global coverage and ensures high data quality, which is what truly sets us apart.

AI-Powered Data Enrichment: Current Applications and Future Vision

How is FullEnrich leveraging AI to improve data enrichment processes, and what future advancements do you foresee in this area?

AI is central to what we do. We use it heavily for data normalization, validation, and quality assurance. It helps us process massive volumes of data efficiently while improving accuracy.

Looking ahead, I see AI playing an even bigger role in proactive enrichment, intent prediction, and personalized workflows for each client — all while maintaining strict compliance and ethical standards.

Why Usage-Based Pricing Makes Sense for Modern SaaS

You’ve adopted a usage-based pricing model at FullEnrich. What influenced this decision, and how has it impacted customer satisfaction and company growth?

Yes, we’ve adopted a usage-based pricing model because we felt that charging per seat or license no longer made sense. Companies that do that often misalign their incentives with those of their customers — it becomes vendor-centric rather than user-centric.

We wanted to flip that model. Our pricing is not only usage-based, but also success-based: customers only pay for verified data. That’s key.

Today, enriched data is often consumed via API and automated workflows, not just by sales reps manually. That means roles like Growth, RevOps, or SalesOps are typically in charge, and there’s no longer a need to limit access by seat.

This model has made us much more accessible, fair, and aligned with how modern teams operate.

Building a Global Remote Team with Performance Culture

With FullEnrich’s expansion into various international markets, what cultural or operational challenges have you encountered, and how have you addressed them?

We’re fully remote and operate across diverse cultures — with team members in France, Eastern Europe, the UK, the U.S., and Australia.

What unites us is a shared culture of performance, respect for customers, and a commitment to high-quality work. That alignment around core values makes daily collaboration highly enjoyable and motivating, despite time zones or cultural differences.

Growth, Fundraising, and Founder Lessons

Raising €1.9 Million in Two Weeks: A Masterclass in Fundraising Efficiency

Raising €1.9 million in seed funding is a significant milestone. What lessons did you learn during the fundraising process that you’d share with other entrepreneurs?

We raised nearly $2 million in just two weeks, which I think is a great timeframe to avoid losing focus on the business.

The key is timing — fundraising when the metrics are strong, and compressing the process into a short, high-intensity sprint. I was doing 10 to 13 investor meetings per day. We had commitments early on, but I kept going to maximize options.

We could have raised $8 million, but chose $2 million to match the stage we were in. A compelling deck, strong rhythm, clear vision, and solid KPIs make a huge difference.

Customer Feedback as Product Development North Star

How does FullEnrich make sure that customer feedback directly influences product development and service improvements?

Customer feedback is central to everything we do. I care deeply about customer service and experience — a business only exists because customers choose it. Their feedback shapes our roadmap, and we stay extremely responsive on live chat.

We also run customer advisory boards to capture qualitative insights. That feedback loop is critical to improving the product and ensuring we stay close to our users’ needs.

The Role of Mentorship in Navigating Startup Growth Stages

Have mentors played a role in your entrepreneurial journey, and how do you approach mentorship within your organization?

There have been several major challenges, though I can’t share all of them publicly yet. Startups naturally come with highs and lows, so it’s crucial to be well-supported. We’re lucky to have incredible advisors and mentors.

I believe in asking for help on specific issues as they arise. We also work with coaches — because as a founder, your role constantly evolves.

The challenges at $5M ARR aren’t the same as at $500k or $20M. You need to constantly learn your “new job” as CEO, and good mentorship accelerates that growth.

Work-Life Integration at Startup Scale

Balancing the demands of a startup with personal life can be challenging. How do you maintain equilibrium, and what activities help you recharge?

To be honest, I don’t really believe in work-life balance at this stage. I work all the time. That said, I try to carve out time for sports and to spend quality moments with my partner in the evenings and weekends. But even when I’m not working, I’m often thinking about the company.

I’m extremely focused on making this venture a success — and I’m okay with that.

Consolidating the Fragmented Data Enrichment Market

What trends do you anticipate in the data enrichment industry over the next five years, and how is FullEnrich preparing to stay ahead?

We’re changing the way companies access data. The market used to be fragmented — too many providers, too many APIs, and inconsistent user experiences. We’re consolidating it, like Booking.com did for hotels or Skyscanner for flights.

FullEnrich is becoming the unified entry point for global contact data across industries. Our focus on aggregation, verification, and accessibility gives us a long-term competitive edge.

Advice for Aspiring SaaS Founders: Focus and Execute

What key piece of advice would you offer to someone looking to start their own SaaS company today?

Start with a real “must-have” problem — not just a nice-to-have. Too many founders build products people can live without.

Either innovate in a way that creates a new category (which usually requires significant funding and education), or enter a competitive market with a sharp niche and a specific angle that truly resonates. Then build one or two killer features for that niche, keep the messaging simple, and aim for $10–20M ARR with a lean, focused team.

We all overestimate our ability to execute — the best software comes from deep focus and going the extra mile in the details. That only works with a narrow scope.

Personal Evolution and the Most Rewarding Aspects of Building FullEnrich

Reflecting on your journey, how have you personally evolved since launching FullEnrich, and what has been the most rewarding aspect?

I’ve evolved a lot — even compared to my first startup, where we raised a pre-seed round. With FullEnrich, we bootstrapped to several million in ARR before raising capital, and now we’re entering a scale phase.

I make mistakes every day, but it’s a rich learning experience. The most rewarding part is building an ambitious team that’s fully committed to our mission — and seeing how much value we bring to our customers.

When clients are truly satisfied and tell us we’ve solved a real pain — that’s incredibly fulfilling. And it shows in the numbers.