RS355: Code Velocity and the Future of SaaS

RS355: Code Velocity and the Future of SaaS

Author: RogueStartups February 25, 2026 Duration: 58:05
What does it mean to be a SaaS founder in a world where AI can build features faster than we ever could?  In this conversation, Craig sits down with Arvid Kahl to unpack the shifting reality of software, competition, and the craft of SaaS in 2026. They talk about code velocity, discernment, marketing in an AI-saturated world, and why SaaS is not dead, even as the software part becomes commoditized. Listen in to find out what actually matters these days, if you want to build something that lasts. Highlights from Craig and Arvid’s conversation: AI is shifting the founder’s role from building to judging quality and making decisions Code velocity now matters more than perfect architecture for most SaaS products Replacing junior developers entirely with AI risks creating a future talent gap Your real competition increasingly includes general AI tools, not just other SaaS companies AI has leveled the marketing baseline, making differentiation and brand more important than ever Standing out requires taste, point of view, and clear positioning, not just tactics Acquiring legacy SaaS and refactoring with AI could be a major opportunity The service part of SaaS still matters most, because AI generates products but not businesses Resources and Links from This Episode Podscan: https://podscan.fm/  Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com  Find me on Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt If you feel like Rogue Startups has benefited you and it might benefit someone else, please share it with them. If you have a chance, give Rogue Startups a review on iTunes.  Do you have any comments, questions, or topic ideas for future episodes? Feel free to reach out to me: Twitter: @TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: Craig Hewitt Email: podcast@roguestartups.com 

Behind every new company is a story, and Rogue Startups digs into the real ones-the messy, uncertain, and exhilarating paths founders actually walk. This isn't about polished success tales; it's a candid look at the day-to-day grind of building a business from the ground up. You'll hear directly from entrepreneurs in the thick of it, along with seasoned experts who specialize in the crucial engines of growth: sales, marketing, and product development. Conversations focus on practical tactics, particularly around scaling productized services and SaaS offerings, exploring the real "how" behind their growth hacking strategies. The value of this podcast lies in that shared experience-hearing how others navigate the very obstacles you might be staring down, and learning what moves actually led to a win. It’s for anyone who prefers the unvarnished truth of entrepreneurship over theory, offering a sense of camaraderie and a toolbox of ideas drawn from the front lines. Tune in for authentic dialogue that skips the fluff and gets straight to the challenges and victories of building something new.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Rogue Startups
Podcast Episodes
RS358: Your Design Sucks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:07
In this episode, Craig sits down with Francois Brill, Head of Product at Castos and longtime design collaborator, for an honest and entertaining conversation about what it really takes to build great-looking products in…
RS357: I Got Hacked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:26
This week on the Rogue Startups, Craig gets roasted. He brought in experienced software engineer Brandon Hancock after building the AI-powered SaaS app Outlier largely through “vibe coding,” so Brandon could audit the en…
RS356: When to Pivot, When to Push w/ Jesse Hanley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:06
In this episode of Rogue Startups, Craig sits down with Jesse Hanley, founder of Bento, for a wide-ranging conversation about building and growing SaaS businesses in the age of AI. From vibe coding and AI-assisted develo…
RS354: The State Of Podcasting Heading Into 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:22
Craig is back! Today, he welcomes fellow podcaster Colin Gray back to the podcast. They dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting, reflecting on how much the landscape has shifted over the last decade and what peop…
RS353: Is This the Last Organic Marketing Channel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:57
In today’s episode, Craig sits down with SaaS founder and entrepreneur Brian Casel to talk about the future of software and AI. With years of experience building and growing SaaS companies, Brian shares his perspective o…
RS352: AI Killed Traditional Marketing – Here's What's Next [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:33
Ross Simmonds, founder of Foundation Marketing, has built a reputation for helping ambitious SaaS and B2B brands stand out online with data-driven growth strategies. In this episode, Craig sits down with Ross to dive int…
RS351: Why Brands Fail on Reddit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:05
Today on the podcast, Craig sits down with Reddit marketing expert Paul Xue to explore how brands can tap into one of the internet’s most engaged and skeptical communities. Reddit can be a tough nut to crack, but when ap…
RS349: Ranking In ChatGPT with Devesh Khanal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:42
Today on Rogue Startups, Craig sits with Devesh Khanal from Grow and Convert to talk about how to get your brand showing up at the top of search results in LLMs. They dive deep into the world of AI SEO—covering everythin…
RS348: Not Exactly White Hat AI-SEO with Lars Lofgren [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
In today’s episode, Craig sits down with AI-SEO expert Lars Lofgren to unpack the future of AI-SEO in a world dominated by artificial intelligence. They explore how to attract and retain traffic through both on-site and…