Is AI Killing SaaS, or Making It Better?

Is AI Killing SaaS, or Making It Better?

Author: Lighter Capital - We Help Startups Grow July 27, 2026 Duration: 54:43

In early 2025, one word had the software world spooked: SaaSpocalypse. The fear that AI was about to gut traditional SaaS wiped out roughly $2 trillion in public market value and cut valuations in half almost overnight.

So, is AI actually killing SaaS? Melissa Widner asks three investors who don't think so: Bill McAleer of Voyager Capital, Ron Weissman of the Band of Angels, and Ian Levine of Launchpad Venture Group.

They dig into why the companies everyone expected AI to wipe out are growing instead of churning, where "rip and replace" really is coming for software, and why SaaS buyers are changing in ways most people haven't noticed yet. All three also agree on something bigger: we're in an AI bubble, and it's about to reshape how these companies get funded and valued.

Each guest closes with a prediction bold enough to look either brilliant or ridiculous in a few years.


For founders who've chosen to build their B2B software companies without giving up the reins, Bootstrapped : The Lighter Side offers a necessary conversation. This isn't about chasing venture capital at all costs; it's a practical dialogue focused on sustainable growth and creative problem-solving. You'll hear specific tactics for extending your runway, refining your sales process, and navigating the unique challenges of scaling a product-led business entirely on your own terms. Each episode digs into the real mechanics of founder-led growth, from managing cash flow in uncertain times to exploring alternative funding avenues that don't require sacrificing equity. The podcast regularly features founders who have walked this path successfully, sharing their unvarnished stories and hard-won lessons. It’s a resource for those moments when you need a blend of strategic advice and genuine camaraderie, reminding you that building a substantial, independent company is not just a dream but a viable, deliberate path. Tune in for honest discussions that cut through the noise of the startup world, brought to you by Lighter Capital, a team dedicated to helping startups grow.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 40

Bootstrapped : The Lighter Side - The Podcast For B2B SaaS Founders
Podcast Episodes
Spencer Lee from Telin, a unique telecom company. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:41
Host Melissa Widner, CEO of Lighter Capital, is joined by Spencer Lee from Telin, a unique telecom company, to tell his story of how he grew his startup using non-dilutive funding.
Bootstrapped : The Lighter Side Introduction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:31
Introducing Bootstrapped : The Lighter Side. Lighter Capital CEO Melissa Widner gets insights from various CEOs and their entrepreneurial journies with growing their companies without selling equity or raising capital th…