Another Crazy Day in AI: How Founders Can Survive the B2B Reset
- Wowza Team
- Aug 19
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
As the day winds down, it’s clear the business world isn’t slowing with it.
The founder of SaaStr has a blunt message for SaaS founders: the growth playbooks of yesterday won’t carry you from $10M to $100M ARR today. The road ahead is tougher, but for founders who adjust quickly, it’s also more open than ever.
Meanwhile, Samsung is rolling out the Galaxy Buds3 FE, an AI-powered earbuds with noise cancellation, clearer calls, and Galaxy ecosystem perks, all at a lower price point.
And in the productivity world, Adobe just introduced Acrobat Studio, blending its PDF tools with AI features to make documents more interactive and collaborative.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
The brutal new reality for SaaS growth
Samsung launches Galaxy Buds3 FE with AI features
Acrobat Studio brings AI to productivity and creativity
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Beyond Traditional SaaS Growth Patterns
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
What happens when the growth strategies that once worked for SaaS companies suddenly stop delivering?
Jason Lemkin, founder of SaaStr, dives deep into how artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of B2B software growth. In his recent breakdown on the SaaStr blog, he argues that the strategies that carried companies from $10M to $100M ARR no longer apply. The rise of platform consolidation, AI-native competitors, and changing VC expectations have made the landscape more brutal, but also full of opportunity for founders who adapt quickly.
Here are some of the central points from his analysis:
The guaranteed growth path vanished — High retention rates and solid teams once made scaling from $10M to $100M nearly inevitable, but customers are now actively evaluating alternatives when contracts renew
Platform winners are dominating their markets — Shopify's 30% growth at $12B demonstrates how successful platforms become entire ecosystems while traditional competitors struggle with declining growth
Hands-on implementation teaches what purchasing doesn't — Founders who personally deploy AI tools learn these systems require intensive training periods and constant optimization, much like managing people
Smaller committed teams outperform larger hesitant ones — Companies achieve better results with fewer employees who embrace new approaches than with larger groups where resistance slows progress
Market positioning became critical for survival — SMB spaces are saturated with AI-powered competitors while enterprise customers are reducing vendor relationships by 10% annually
Competitive advantages have shorter lifespans — Startups can exploit established companies' focus on existing customers, but these windows close as incumbents modernize their products
Lemkin's analysis reveals how market fundamentals are changing in ways that make historical patterns less reliable for predicting future success. The growth trajectories that many B2B software companies built their plans around are becoming harder to achieve. Customers who previously remained loyal for years are now willing to evaluate alternatives more frequently. The protective moats that once shielded established players are weakening while new forms of competitive advantage emerge around platform integration and AI capabilities.
This creates different strategic pressures depending on where companies stand today. Established businesses must navigate the tension between serving existing customers and investing in new technologies, often requiring difficult trade-offs in resource allocation. Newer companies have opportunities to build around current market conditions but face the pressure of establishing strong positions before larger competitors catch up. Success seems to depend less on executing proven formulas and more on understanding how these evolving dynamics affect your specific situation and making conscious decisions about where to focus your efforts.
Read the full blog here.
Watch the SaaS Operators Podcast here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Samsung Launches Galaxy Buds3 FE With AI Features
/Samsung Newsroom
Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Buds3 FE, bringing premium sound, sleek design, and Galaxy AI integration at an affordable price. The earbuds feature enhanced Active Noise Cancelling, improved call clarity powered by AI, and intuitive controls with seamless Galaxy ecosystem connectivity. Users can also access smart features like real-time translation, hands-free assistance, and personalized audio for everyday convenience. With a stylish Blade design and accessible pricing, the Buds3 FE mark a major step in making Galaxy’s AI-powered audio innovation more widely available.
Read more here.
Acrobat Studio Brings AI to Productivity and Creativity
/Adobe Newsroom
Adobe has launched Acrobat Studio, a new platform that combines Acrobat, Adobe Express, and AI agents to transform how people work with documents. At its core are PDF Spaces, which turn static files and web pages into interactive hubs powered by customizable AI assistants for insights, recommendations, and collaboration. Users can also create standout content with Express tools and Firefly AI while still relying on Acrobat’s trusted PDF features like editing, e-signing, and redaction. Adobe positions Acrobat Studio as a first-of-its-kind destination for smarter, faster, and more creative workflows.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!
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