Are AI Companies Out Funding Pure-Play SaaS?
Is the AI funding boom overshadowing traditional SaaS? In episode #306, Ben Murray shares fresh fundraising data from over 8,000 tracked funding events to see how AI-native companies compare to pure-play SaaS in investor activity.
Analyzing the first week of August, Ben breaks down the percentage of companies that are AI-first and how many SaaS products now include AI features or LLM integrations. If you’re a SaaS operator, founder, or investor, this is a quick pulse check on where capital is flowing — and what it might mean for your valuation and fundraising strategy.
🧠What You’ll Learn
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Funding Breakdown – % of AI-native vs. pure-play SaaS companies receiving investment.
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Feature Adoption – The 50/50 split on companies adding AI or LLM features.
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Why the line between AI and SaaS is getting blurry in business models.
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How these trends might influence investor metrics, competitive positioning, and long-term company valuation.
📎 Resources Mentioned
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CAC Payback Period: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-calculate-cac-payback-period-with-variable-revenue/
- SaaS Metrics and Financial Management Course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation-course-community-phased
đź§ľ Quote from Ben
“The lines between SaaS and AI are blurring. A lot more AI is being embedded into pure-play SaaS products."