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AI Agents are the new SaaS

Shownote

In this solo episode I lay out why I believe building agents is the new SaaS: software is shifting from helping you do the work to doing the work with you. I walk through a full playbook — find a niche, pick a workflow with a paycheck attached, shadow the human, spec the agent, build the minimum useful version, sell a pilot like labor, then productize the repeatable parts. I share live market examples like Slang AI for restaurants and Same Day for home services, plus pricing models and a distribution strategy built on workflow teardowns. I close with a 30-day, zero-to-100 plan for launching an agent-first business. This one is for anyone eager to build with AI or simply become more productive. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:38 – Building Agents is the new SaaS 04:11 – Pick a valuable workflow 06:12 – Shadow the Human First 09:34 – Build the Minimum Useful Agent 12:50 – The wrapper makes it SaaS 15:50 – Sell the Pilot Like Labor (and Pricing) 18:37 – Own the workflow 21:45 – The Zero-to-100 Plan in 30 Days 24:14 – Closing Thoughts Key Points * Agent SaaS sells work as a service; the product is the job itself, priced like labor. * Start with a workflow that already carries a paycheck: high frequency, clear finish line, existing software, learnable edge cases, and felt pain. * Shadow a human across 10–20 real jobs before you write a single prompt — the detail is the product. * Ship the minimum useful agent — draft-and-approve, triage, coordinator, or bounded action — and earn autonomy over time. * The wrapper (logs, approvals, evals, analytics) creates trust and turns automation into real SaaS. * Win distribution with workflow teardowns: show the old way, show the agent way, sell the painkiller. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com [https://www.ideabrowser.com/] LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/ [https://latecheckout.agency/] The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/ [https://www.thevibemarketer.com/] FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg [https://twitter.com/gregisenberg] Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ [https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/]

Highlights

This episode presents a comprehensive playbook for building AI agent businesses, positioning them as the next evolution of SaaS. The host argues that agents, which sell labor and outcomes rather than just software tools, represent a larger market opportunity. The discussion provides a step-by-step framework for identifying, building, and selling these agents, complete with real-world examples and a concrete 30-day launch plan.
00:00
Agents sell labor, not software.
01:38
The product is the job
04:11
Pick a workflow with a paycheck attached.
06:12
Pick a niche, list 20 pain points, score them.
09:34
Start with one simple workflow to build trust.
12:50
Evals turn agent performance into a sales asset.
15:50
Sell the pilot like labor, then productize it
18:37
Pick one workflow, create 50 examples.
21:45
Pick a niche where missed work costs money
24:14
AI agents are the new SaaS.

Chapters

Intro
00:00
Building Agents is the new SaaS
01:38
Pick a valuable workflow
04:11
Shadow the Human First
06:12
Build the Minimum Useful Agent
09:34
The wrapper makes it SaaS
12:50
Sell the Pilot Like Labor (and Pricing)
15:50
Own the workflow
18:37
The Zero-to-100 Plan in 30 Days
21:45
Closing Thoughts
24:14

Transcript

Greg Isenberg: Okay, I'll say it. Building agents is the new SaaS. I mean, we saw billions of dollars of value creation during the SaaS era. People, founders, 21 years old, 24 years old, you name it, come up with SaaS ideas that changed their lives. Of cou...