Aura Ventures’ Post

At 138% YoY growth rates, AI-native companies are outperforming both vertical (100%) and horizontal (56%) SaaS companies*. So, Paddle is giving 5 of them a chance to win $20,000: January 29, at AI Launchpad Demo Day, we'll be hosting an epic event with… - 5 AI founders - 6 minutes pitch each - $20,000 cash prize This virtual event will feature the pitches and product demos from top founders emerging from the latest 6-week cohort of our prestigious startup accelerator program: Paddle AI Launchpad. The program is designed to help ambitious software founders build, launch and scale their AI-powered business ideas. Here's what to expect at Demo Day: - Founders' pitches: Top 5 AI startup founders from the latest cohort will take the virtual stage and present their innovative products. The demo day winner will be awarded $20k in cash... Agility Writer, AddMaple, Spacely AI, @PostNitro, ScrapingAnt - Expert judging panel: A panel of top investors, tech leaders, and founders will evaluate the pitches, ask questions and offer live feedback: Lolita, Warren, Henrik - Watch and vote: Watch the pitches, ask your burning questions in the chat and vote for your favourite startup and help them win the “People’s Choice Award” at the end. You’ll find the registration link below 👇 I look forward to seeing you there! ---- *YoY growth rates of top quartile companies (AI-native, vertical & horizontal SaaS) from SaaS Benchmarks report by Kyle Poyar, High Alpha & Paddle, based on surveying +800 respondents. If you're interested in seeing the whole 56-page report, let me know and I'll be happy to share it.

#SaaS #AI #BootstrappingJourney #StartupTips #TechEntrepreneur Hey everyone! 👋 I'm Sukrit, the founder of InteligenAI. I'm thrilled to share how we managed to bootstrap our AI SaaS to over $60K in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) in just 2.5 years—all while staying true to our vision and team. 🚀 Here are a few highlights from our journey: We specialize in crafting custom AI solutions tailored for businesses. Our core team has remained the same since day one, which has been instrumental to our success. We’re fully profitable without any external funding and don’t plan on raising money anytime soon. It hasn’t always been a walk in the park, but the lessons we've learned along the way have been priceless. 💡 Whether you're interested in bootstrapping, building AI products, scaling a startup, or just want to chat—I'm here for it! So, what are you curious about? 🤔 Ask me anything, and I’ll do my best to share my experiences and provide some honest insights. Also, I’d love to hear from... How Did We Achieve $60K+ MRR in 2.5 Years with AI SaaS? Answers: https://lnkd.in/gcHYYkbi

🚀 The rapid rise of SaaS platforms offering cutting-edge AI solutions reshapes industries. Many of these startups are scaling fast and showing stronger resilience compared to those built on older tech foundations. But as exciting as this innovation wave is, it also brings strategic challenges. Some companies avoid engaging with these platforms in this dynamic landscape and stick to proprietary, in-house developments. Others take a different route, integrating third-party APIs to build flexible, orchestrated solutions. 📊 We need a robust strategy that systematically evaluates the adoption of AI-driven SaaS platforms. Yet, as highlighted in the chart 📈, many startups won’t make it past the early stages, leaving their clients vulnerable. The risk is real when partnering with startups, especially when most have less than three years in the game. Understanding the strengths of both in-house and third-party solutions is critical. #Innovation #SaaS #DigitalTransformation #AI #BusinessStrategy #TechRisks

Looking for the best advice to help you leverage #AI effectively & set your company apart? Sébastien Le Roy from Serena is here for you! Tune in on June 6th to our next webinar - and get the keys to win the AI Race 🏎

Looking for the keys to win the AI race in 2024? 🤖🏎️ Join Sébastien Le Roy, Partner at Serena and author of the Serena European SaaS Benchmark on June 6th for an in-depth webinar with Stephen Lurie from B2B Rocks! Whether you’re steering an AI-first startup or running a B2B SaaS company, this is your chance to gain a competitive edge in 2024. 👊 Sébastien will share his best advice to help you leverage #AI effectively to set your company apart. 🏁 These insights will be presented before the release of the 2024 edition of the Serena European SaaS Benchmark, which will focus on AI-first startups (applied AI and genAI) to see if their trajectories are the same as those of more traditional SaaS companies. The study will also contain insights on integrating AI to enhance efficiency and its impact on performance metrics. It's still time to take part in it (see below)! Prepare your questions, and don’t miss out on this opportunity to collect data & practical tips! ⏰ When? Thurs. June 6th at 5 pm CET 💻 Where? Online - Register via the link in the comments! See you there! Colin Lalouette, PhD Maëlys De Santis

🚀 Salesforce Ventures Doubles Down on AI - What Does It Mean for the Industry? 💡 During this week's Dreamforce 2024, Salesforce Ventures announced a $500 million expansion to its AI fund, bringing the total to $1 billion. With AI at the heart of its strategy, Salesforce is heavily investing in companies pushing the frontier, from Anthropic to Hugging Face. 🌟 Why it Matters: 1. AI Surge: This latest investment reflects how AI is reshaping industries, with practical applications transforming everything from customer support to operational efficiencies. 2. Strategic Bets: Companies receiving funding, like Runway and Together AI, are setting the tone for how AI will be integrated into everyday business operations—especially in real-world applications across sectors. 3. San Francisco’s AI Hotspot: Startups worldwide are flocking to the city, fueled by not only investments but also valuable networking opportunities with Fortune 500 companies through VC-hosted events. As AI grows more intelligent and capable, this funding ensures deeper integration of AI into business processes, signaling the next big wave in enterprise tech innovation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gXFsHihM 🔗 Let’s stay tuned for what’s next! #AI #Dreamforce #Salesforce #AIApplications

Stavrinos Kyriakou, Lead Scale ISVs Strategy at Microsoft CEMA, recently led an inspiring session titled "Accelerating AI Innovation: Leveraging Microsoft Founders Hub for Success." 🚀 This session delved into how Microsoft Founders Hub empowers startups and digital innovators by providing access to cutting-edge AI tools, robust cloud infrastructure, and expert mentorship. By spotlighting resources tailored to startups, the event offered valuable insights for tech pioneers eager to fast-track their development journey. In an ecosystem where innovation is key, tapping into programs like Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is a game-changer! 🌐 Abu Dhabi Investment Office Plug and Play Tech Center #AccelerateWithAI #MicrosoftFoundersHub #TechInnovation #ISVSuccess #CloudInfrastructure #MicrosoftStartups #AI #GrowthXAccelerator

2025 has just started and is already shaping up to be wild. 🔹 AI is growing up fast – We’re moving from "cool demos" to "serious productivity." AI copilots won’t just assist; they’ll own workflows, making decisions and automating more complex tasks. 🔹 SaaS isn’t slowing down – But the days of one-size-fits-all are numbered. In 2025, expect hyper-personalized SaaS tools driven by user-specific data and behavior. Think SaaS that learns and adapts to your team’s quirks. 🔹 Custom Development is thriving – AI can speed up dev work, but unique, complex products still need that human touch. Custom apps and platforms are becoming essential for businesses wanting to stand out or operate in niche markets. ✨ Can you feel what the real game-changer in 2025 will be? I’d bet on a combination of all three above: AI-driven custom SaaS - Faster development cycles; leaner, more powerful products. At Wecraft, we’re already diving deep into this shift – helping startups build the next generation of intelligent, custom software. 🚀 What trends are you betting on for 2025? Let's hear it! #AI #SaaS #SoftwareDevelopment #Startups

At xZactly.ai, every day brings an exciting new challenge as we collaborate with groundbreaking AI startups across industries. From enhancing healthcare with AI-powered cancer care solutions to revolutionizing Web3 ticketing platforms, we’re proud to support visionary founders and their transformative ideas. Here's just a few highlights from last week: 🔹 Accelerating Growth: Helping startups navigate the complex journey of raising capital, scaling operations, and breaking into new markets. 🔹 Strategic Go-to-Market Plans: Partnering with companies to drive customer acquisition and boost ARR through tailored strategies. 🔹 Innovating New Spaces: Supporting early-stage ventures to turn futuristic ideas into reality. 🔹 Cross-Border Collaboration: Engaging with startups to connect resources across continents for enterprise search innovations. 🔹 Transforming Industries: Partnering with integrated media companies and content producers in the creative sector to explore AI’s role in storytelling and media. 🔹 Scaling Through Distribution: Supporting an exciting new AI SaaS business in building robust distribution channels to more quickly scale their company and expand market reach. 🔹 Fundraising Success: Successfully supporting startups in their fundraising efforts, helping founders articulate their vision, refine investor materials, and secure critical funding to fuel their growth. Whether it’s designing customized go-to-market strategies, aligning on funding opportunities, or offering insights to enhance products, xZactly.ai meets startups where they are to accelerate their business to greater success. 🌟 📩 Let’s connect if you’re an AI founder looking to scale your company! #AIStartups #Innovation #BusinessAcceleration #xZactlyAI #GoToMarket #StartupSupport

#Update Everstage, a SaaS startup, has raised $30 million to enhance its product capabilities and expand in-house professional services. The platform helps businesses manage sales performance and align frontline teams. Everstage serves multiple industries, including technology, manufacturing, and financial services. A key element is "Crystal," a module that provides real-time commission forecasting for sales teams. The platform also offers BI-powered reporting and analytics. In the future, Everstage plans to launch its AI Agent Creation Studio, which will allow Revenue Operations (RevOps) professionals to build and customise their own AI assistants. Read the story: https://ow.ly/j5UJ50TMtq5 Siva Rajamani(Co-founder_CEO), Vivek Suriyamoorthy (Co-founder_CTO), Mike Groeneveld (VP of Global Sales) #SaaS #StartupFunding #RevenueOperations #SalesPerformance #AI #BusinessIntelligence #TechStartups #SalesAnalytics #DigitalTransformation #Everstage