Inside the 2026 Tech Pullback: SaaS, AI, and Survival Strategies

Описание: SaaS companies are down dramatically—Figma is 77% off its peak. In this candid conversation, Immad Akhund (CEO of Mercury) and Raj Suri (co-founder of Lima and Tribe) unpack what's really happening in tech as we head into 2026.
They explore why the SaaS business model is under attack (hint: it's not just AI building software faster), the shift from per-seat pricing to API-driven usage, and why enterprises actually buy SaaS products—spoiler, it's not about the software. The conversation reveals how startups can now stay lean with fewer employees for much longer, with companies like OpenAI reaching $500B valuations with just 4,000 people.
Immad and Raj also dive into their personal experiences with AI agents, discussing what actually works versus the hype, why they're skeptical of consumer AI hardware, and how AI is changing daily productivity for founders. They debate Google's quiet win with the Apple-Gemini deal, why Siri is dead, and whether one AI model controlling all handsets should concern us.
The episode wraps with practical advice on what makes a compelling VC pitch in 2026, why crazy promises still work (even when timelines are wildly optimistic), and how to think about your startup's valuation as a call option rather than current worth. From Elon's humanoid robot bet to the new growth expectations (0 to $5M in 12 months), this conversation offers an honest founder-to-founder take on navigating the current landscape.

Key Topics:

Why SaaS companies are struggling and what survives
The real reason enterprises buy software (risk offloading, not features)
AI agents in practice: what works, what doesn't
Google's strategic win with Apple's Gemini integration
How to pitch VCs when expectations are 5x higher than before
Why crazy promises and long timelines still attract capital
The shift to leaner startups and API-first business models

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