Guest: Sai Dhanak, CEO & Co-Founder of Deduction
What if the next great SaaS company does not just sell software, but delivers the service itself?
In this episode of SaaS Backwards, Sai Dhanak shares why Deduction took a different path in tax: instead of building software for accountants, the company built an AI-powered tax firm. He explains why traditional SaaS moats are weakening, why labor-constrained markets may need a new model, and how owning delivery can create better product feedback loops, customer experience, and long-term defensibility. This episode is a strong reframing for founders and operators thinking through AI-native business models in vertical SaaS.
Key takeaways:
- The best AI opportunity may be delivering the service, not selling the tool
- Traditional SaaS moats are getting weaker
- Full-stack ownership can improve speed, UX, and learning loops
- AI-native companies may need to redesign the business, not just the product
Prefer to watch? Check out this episode's video here.
Other resources to check out:
Interview with Vinay Bhagat, Founder and CEO of TrustRadius who publishes a yearly report about how B2B buyer behavior is changing.
The Lead Gen Mistake I Guarantee You’re Making – how to create content that better identifies intent from today’s b2b buyer.
And, if you want an outside look at your content with actionable advice, take advantage of our Content Audit. Valued at $20K in free consulting
