Younium had the pleasure of having Elliot Martin with us for a few months while he wrote his thesis project, "Customer Churn in the SaaS B2B Industry." 

Hi Elliot! Please name a fun fact about yourself.

I love making sourdough bread! I find all things fermentation interesting, but making bread is a very relaxing and fun activity.

Where is your favorite place you’ve ever visited? 

A few places come to mind, but Portugal is one of my favorites! Great food, good surfing, and beautiful nature.

Name a person you admire.

I admire my partner a lot! Not because she’s my partner, but she’s genuinely the most optimistic person I know and always finds joy in life no matter the situation.

Can you tell us more about yourself, your studies, and how you ended up at Younium?

Over the past five years, I have been studying for an engineering Master of Science in IT at KTH in Stockholm. For the last two years, I have focused on a Master's program in Interactive Media Technology, which is quite a comprehensive program in which students learn to design, develop, and evaluate interactive products and media. 

During my studies, I developed a keen interest in data science and analytics, so when I started looking for a degree project, I was certain I wanted it to be in this domain. I found my way to Younium after discussing it with a friend who worked there. We discussed what type of project I wanted to conduct and what Younium does as a company, concluding that an opportunity could exist. After a few more meetings, the idea for my thesis topic was set, and I was ready to start working.

On what topic did you write your essay?

I have been investigating Customer Churn in the SaaS B2B industry. Using Younium's booking data, I conducted a data analytical project, researching what the data reveals about key drivers of customer churn and how well machine learning models can predict it. 

How has writing an essay at Younium been? What are the people and culture like?

Writing my thesis at Younium has been a cool experience! The project was fascinating and offered just the right amount of challenge, making every moment worthwhile. Younium turned out to be the ideal place for this endeavor.

The atmosphere here is dynamic and fast-paced, with many exciting things happening constantly. But it's balanced with plenty of fun and social activities to keep a good spirit.  Given the fast-paced environment, I deeply appreciate everyone for their hospitality and for taking the time to help out this stressed thesis student. I always found friendly faces and helpful hands whenever I had a question. It's been a truly memorable experience!

What will you do now that your semester and studies are almost over? Any exciting plans for summer?

I have a few plans up my sleeve! Most importantly, after my thesis is presented I’m planning on locking away my computer and not bringing it out before returning back to business in August. In the meantime, kick back and relax while enjoying the sun and being in good company.

Can you recommend someone else in the last parts of their studies to write a thesis at Younium? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend it! I think there are many interesting problem definitions in the world of SaaS that would suit a thesis topic in data analytics, software development, finance, etc. At Younium, you get the opportunity to explore some of these problem definitions and, under guidance, have the freedom and responsibility to conduct a project that you find interesting.

What’s one thing you’ve learned during your time at Younium that you didn’t expect?

Beforehand, I knew little about the SaaS industry, so I didn’t know what to expect. Instead of one big surprise, a series of smaller revelations stood out. I learned countless details about how the SaaS industry operates and was amazed by the incredible diversity within this business.