SaaS is dead?

In this solo episode, I explain why I say SaaS is dead and what I see taking its place. For 15 years, SaaS meant paying engineers to build a tool and charging per seat, and now models like Opus 5.5, GPT-6, and Argon make the tool easy to build. I walk through what I call smart SaaS: give the tool away for free, collect data and network effects, and make money by upselling AI agents and human services. I share a calorie tracking example, three ways to charge, and why enterprises still pay per seat. If you build software, this episode gives you a map for building something people want in a market where the tool is free.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:47 – SaaS 1.0

02:56 – SaaS 2.0: The New Business Model

05:12 – How to monetize SaaS 2.0

06:18 – Service is the new Software

07:22 – SaaS Is Dead, Long Live SaaS

08:58 – SMB vs Enterprise

10:31 – Closing Thoughts

Key Points

• AI makes the tool easy to build, so the per-seat model of the last 15 years has run its course.
• Smart SaaS gives the tool away and collects data and network effects as payment.
• The money comes from upselling intelligence from AI agents and services from humans.
• Agents can charge by token or by outcome, and human services by the week or month.
• SaaS for SMBs, prosumers, and individuals trends toward free, while enterprises still pay something per seat.
• The market for getting things done is bigger than the market for tools, so the total market for SaaS grows.

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