ON DEMAND • Podcast Episode

Privacy-First Analytics: Building Trust Without Invasive Tracking

A candid conversation with Marko Saric, Co-Founder of Plausible Analytics, on privacy-first analytics, sustainable SaaS growth, open-source transparency, product positioning, customer trust, and why businesses are rethinking how they collect and use website data.

FEATURED GUEST

Marko Saric

Our featured guest

Marko Saric

Co-Founder, Plausible Analytics

In this episode, Marko Saric shares the story behind Plausible Analytics, a simple, lightweight, privacy-first alternative to Google Analytics. He explains how Plausible started as a developer-led project, how he joined as co-founder to support growth and positioning, and why the team chose to build without investors.

He also covers:

  • Why privacy-first analytics is still early in its adoption curve
  • How Plausible grew without venture capital pressure
  • Why open-source transparency matters in privacy-sensitive markets
  • How clear positioning helped Plausible stand out against Google Analytics
  • Why data ethics should not change just because AI is advancing

Why this conversation matters now

Website analytics has become a trust issue. As privacy regulations, user expectations, and data ownership concerns grow, businesses are asking harder questions about what they track and why.

01.

What website data do we actually need to collect?

02.

Can analytics work without cookies or invasive tracking?

03.

How do privacy-first tools build trust with customers?

04.

When does open source become a credibility advantage?

05.

Can a SaaS company grow sustainably without venture capital?

06.

How should analytics companies think about AI, data ethics, and user privacy?

What you'll learn in this episode

After unlocking the full podcast, you’ll get expert insights on privacy-first analytics, product positioning, bootstrapped growth, and ethical data practices.
01.

Why Plausible was created as a simpler alternative to Google Analytics

02.

How privacy concerns and regulation changed awareness around website analytics

03.

Why bootstrapping gave Plausible more control over its product and roadmap

04.

How one strong blog post helped create early traction and brand visibility

05.

Why open-sourcing the product helped prove Plausible’s privacy claims

06.

How a small remote team uses customer feedback to shape the roadmap

07.

Why data ethics need to stay consistent as AI and analytics evolve

Who this episode is for

CEOs and founders CTOs and technology leaders Marketing leaders Product leaders Data and privacy leaders SaaS teams building trust-led products Growing businesses with digital channels

Our host

Haseeb Khan 1

Haseeb Khan

VP, Technology

Haseeb Khan is a founding member and Vice President of Technology at tkxel with over 23 years of experience in software engineering and technology leadership. He has played a key role in shaping tkxel’s engineering foundations, delivery standards, and technical culture. His expertise covers enterprise platforms, distributed systems, mobile solutions, legacy modernization, and AI/ML.

A preview of the key takeaways

01.

Privacy-first analytics is still early

Marko explains that many website owners still do not realize there are alternatives to Google Analytics that avoid cookies, personal data collection, cross-site tracking, and data selling.

02.

Bootstrapping gave the team freedom

Plausible did not pursue venture capital. That allowed the founders to avoid external pressure around roadmap decisions, growth targets, and product direction.

03.

Positioning can create momentum

A clear blog post on why website owners should remove Google Analytics became an early turning point for Plausible, bringing attention and helping define its point of view.

04.

Open source helps turn privacy claims into proof

In a privacy-first category, trust cannot rely only on marketing language. Plausible open-sourced its code so users could inspect how the product works.

05.

Data ethics need a clear line

Plausible’s approach is built around collecting minimal information, avoiding personal data, and rejecting technologies that compromise its privacy principles.

Why tkxel is hosting this conversation 

 At tkxel, we work with growing businesses navigating data strategy, software engineering, AI adoption, product development, cybersecurity, and digital transformation.

This episode is especially relevant for leaders thinking about how to build digital products that earn trust while still delivering useful business insights. It is not just a conversation about analytics. It is a business conversation about privacy, transparency, product positioning, sustainable growth, and responsible use of data.

WHERE TKXEL BRINGS CONTEXT

1 Data strategy and analytics modernization 2 Product development and SaaS engineering 3 Privacy-aware technology design 4 Responsible AI and data practices

RECOGNIZED BY

Key concepts covered in this podcast

1

Privacy-first analytics

Explains how analytics can provide useful website insights without invasive tracking or unnecessary data collection.

2

Google Analytics alternatives

Covers why businesses are evaluating simpler, more privacy-friendly analytics platforms.

3

Bootstrapped SaaS growth

Shows how Plausible grew without venture capital pressure or growth-at-all-costs decision-making.

4

Open-source transparency

Explores how open source helps build credibility in privacy-sensitive software markets.

5

Product positioning

Looks at how clear messaging helped Plausible stand out in a crowded analytics category.

6

Customer-led product development

Covers how a small remote team uses customer feedback to shape product decisions.

7

Data ethics

Explains why privacy principles should remain consistent as analytics, AI, and data tools evolve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this episode only for analytics teams? Expand FAQ Collapse FAQ
No. While the conversation focuses on website analytics, it is also relevant for founders, marketers, product leaders, CTOs, privacy teams, and businesses evaluating how they collect and use customer data.
What do I get after accessing the podcast? Expand FAQ Collapse FAQ
You get access to the full podcast episode and transcript.
What is the core focus of the episode? Expand FAQ Collapse FAQ
The core focus is privacy-first analytics, bootstrapped SaaS growth, open-source transparency, product positioning, remote team culture, and data ethics.
Why is the podcast gated? Expand FAQ Collapse FAQ
It is positioned as a premium resource for leaders actively researching privacy-first analytics, ethical data collection, and sustainable SaaS growth.
Can this help teams reviewing their analytics stack? Expand FAQ Collapse FAQ
Yes. The conversation is useful for teams thinking about Google Analytics alternatives, privacy-friendly tracking, data ownership, and simpler analytics workflows.

Access the full podcast

We'll only use your details to send this resource and relevant insights from tkxel.

privacy-icon

We value your privacy

tkxel uses essential cookies to ensure the proper functioning of our website. With your consent, we also use optional cookies for analytics, advertising, and third-party services.

By clicking “Accept all”, you consent to the use of all cookies. You can manage or withdraw consent for optional cookies at any time by clicking “Customize”. Please note that some website features may not function properly if optional cookies are disabled.

For more information, please read our Privacy Policy.

Customize
Accept All

Control Your Privacy

Websites may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information is used to personalize your experience and is not usually linked to your identity. You can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, but it may affect your website experience. Learn more and change settings by clicking on the different categories.

Strictly Necessary

Strictly necessary cookies enable website functionality and cannot be turned off. They are typically set in response to actions you take, like setting privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms. You can block or receive alerts about these cookies, but some website features may not work. These cookies do not store personal information.

Performance

Performance cookies track site visits and traffic sources to measure and improve site performance. They provide information on popular pages and visitor behavior. The information collected is anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies, we will not know when you have visited the site and cannot monitor its performance.

Targeting

Targeting cookies are cookies that our advertising partners may set on our site. They use them to create a profile of your interests and show relevant ads on other sites. They do not store personal information, but use your browser and internet device's unique ID. Without these cookies, you will see less targeted ads.

Functional

Functional cookies improve your website experience through enhanced functionality and personalization. They are set by us or third-party providers. Without them, some or all of these services may not work properly.

Confirm My Choices
Accept All

Upcoming Webinar

FinOps for AI Workflows: Controlling Cloud Costs for Businesses

August 12, 2026 10:00 am EST

Register Now
Watch Now
00 Days
00 Hours
00 Minutes
00 Seconds
Register Now