Is AI really killing B2B SaaS, or is it just subscription software by another name?

In this Hot Take Tuesday, Rob Walling, Einar Vollset, and Tracy Osborn dig into the market panic around SaaS stocks, whether AI models are actually getting better, ChatGPT's move into advertising (and Anthropic's spicy response), and the explosion of OpenClaw. They also tackle QSBS and when SaaS acquisitions shift from asset to stock purchases.

This episode is brought to you by Mercury

Mercury is the banking solution I use across my businesses, from my personal single-member LLC to MicroConf and TinySeed.

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• (3:52) – M&A guide for B2B SaaS founders
• (6:35) – QSBS and asset vs. stock purchase thresholds
• (9:25) – Is AI killing B2B SaaS?
• (16:27) – Are AI models noticeably better than a year ago?
• (17:27) – ChatGPT vs. Claude: real-world experiences
• (26:17) – ChatGPT ads and Anthropic's Super Bowl response
• (39:34) – The opportunity for SaaS founders in new ad networks
• (32:29) – OpenClaw: hype or substance?

• MicroConf US April 12-14, 2026 · Portland, Oregon
• Discretion Capital’s M&A Guide
• TinySeed SaaS Institute
• AI is Killing B2B SaaS by Namanyay Goel
• OpenClaw is What Apple Intelligence Should Have Been by Jake Quist
• Rob Walling @robwalling | X
• Einar Vollset @einarvollset | X
• Tracy Osborn (tracymakes) | Blue Sky

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you'd like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We'd love to hear...

Should you build your SaaS with no-code tools, or is AI coding the better path forward?

In this episode, Rob is joined by fan favorite Derrick Reimer to tackle listener questions on no-code vs. AI vibe coding, when to take small funding early vs. pure bootstrapping, whether SaaS margins will compress as AI makes building cheaper, and how to get truly useful feedback from your customers.

Want to get your question answered? Submit it here for a future episode.

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• (2:18) – No-code vs. AI vibe coding for SaaS
• (7:55) – What Rob would do as a non-developer today
• (11:10) – Will you have to rewrite AI or no-code apps later?
• (17:08) – Taking small funding early vs. bootstrapping
• (21:29) – De-risking before taking funding
• (27:42) – Will AI compress SaaS margins?
• (31:32) – Why brand and positioning still win
• (37:38) – Expanding your value chain with AI
• (39:47) – Getting actionable feedback from customers

• MicroConf Europe 2026 – Join us in Reykjavík, Iceland (Sept 21–23)
• Discretion Capital - M&A Advisory for B2B SaaS with $2-25m ARR
• SavvyCal
• SavvyCal Appointments
• TinySeed
• Derrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | X

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you'd like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We'd love to hear from you!

Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify

Is founder-led marketing right for your SaaS, or just a distraction?

In this episode, Rob Walling sits down with Jay Clouse, founder of Creator Science, to explore founder-led marketing. They dig into how Jay overcame his own limiting beliefs about creativity, why most SaaS founders probably shouldn't pursue content creation, and how to evaluate whether building an audience makes sense for your specific business.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Head to the Creator Science podcast to hear Jay interview Rob about SaaS, being a creator, and how he prioritizes his time.

Episode Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by Mercury

Mercury is the banking solution I use across my businesses, from my personal single-member LLC to MicroConf and TinySeed.

Traditional banking forces you to duct-tape tools together and work around slow, clunky processes. Mercury gives me a clean dashboard that shows exactly where each business stands at a glance.

The interface is simple enough for daily banking and paying invoices, but powerful enough to handle multi-step approval workflows for large transfers.

There's a reason more than 300,000 entrepreneurs have made the switch. It's free to get started with no in-person visits and no minimum balance.

Apply online in minutes at mercury.com.

Mercury is a fintech company, not an FDIC-insured bank. Banking services provided through Choice Financial Group and Column N.A., Members FDIC.

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• (3:17) – What is Creator Science and who it serves
• (6:49) – “I’m not creative”: Jay’s mindset shift + advice for founders
• (11:38) – Examples of ultra-niche creator businesses
• (13:54) – Why founders should create content for customers (not other founders)
• (19:02) – Discovery vs. relationship channels: where attention actually comes from
• (20:10) – Who Should Pursue Founder-Led Marketing?
• (24:17) – Picking platforms based on where your customers already are
• (31:43) – Founder-involved vs. founder-led marketing

• MicroConf Europe┃Reykjavik, Iceland · Sept 21-23
• Creator Science
• Creator Science Podcast (Part two of this conversation)
• Jay Clouse┃LinkedIn