Episode 813 | SaaS Predictions for 2026 (+ Reflections on 2025) - Startups For the Rest of Us Recap

Podcast: Startups For the Rest of Us

Published: 2025-12-30

Duration: 28 min

Summary

In this episode, Rob Walling reviews his predictions for 2025, offers new insights for 2026, and reflects on key concepts introduced in the past year, emphasizing the ongoing evolution in the SaaS landscape.

What Happened

Rob Walling revisits his predictions from last year, sharing insights on recurring themes in the startup community, particularly the issue of plateaus that entrepreneurs often encounter. He highlights that many founders are struggling to break through these plateaus and emphasizes that identifying the underlying cause is crucial to overcoming these obstacles. Rob also shares his thoughts on a framework he calls the 'core four,' which encompasses essential skills for SaaS founders, namely marketing and sales, product, and development.

Looking forward, Rob provides his predictions for 2026, noting the randomness inherent in making forecasts about the tech landscape. He reflects on his previous predictions, giving himself half credit for the ownership change of Twitter, which was acquired in a transaction involving Elon Musk's AI company. However, he acknowledges that many of his predictions were not realized, such as the anticipated public offering of Stripe and significant changes in SEO dynamics due to AI searches. Rob's candidness about the unpredictability of the startup world serves as a reminder that while trends can guide predictions, certainty is elusive.

Key Insights

• Understanding the causes of SaaS plateaus is crucial for growth.
• The 'core four' skills for SaaS founders are marketing and sales, product, and development.
• Predictions in the tech industry are often uncertain and should be taken lightly.
• Reflecting on past entrepreneurial mistakes can provide valuable lessons.

Key Questions Answered

What are the common causes of SaaS plateaus?

Rob discusses the recurring issue of plateaus that many founders face in the SaaS industry. He highlights that identifying the cause of a plateau is crucial for moving past it, noting that he has identified seven or eight different causes through his research on hundreds of B2B SaaS companies. His insights emphasize that while the solutions to these plateaus may seem obvious, understanding the specific reason for stagnation is key to finding a way forward.

What is the 'core four' framework for SaaS founders?

The 'core four' framework introduced by Rob encompasses the essential skills that every SaaS founding team should either possess or be willing to learn. These skills include marketing and sales, product development, and technical development. Rob believes that this framework is crucial for both bootstrapped and non-bootstrapped SaaS ventures, and he notes that it has already generated interest and questions from listeners, indicating its relevance in the startup community.

How did Rob's predictions for 2025 turn out?

Rob reflects on his predictions from the previous year, providing a candid assessment of their accuracy. He gives himself half credit for predicting that Twitter would change hands, as it was acquired by Elon Musk's AI company. However, he admits that many other predictions, such as the public offering of Stripe and a significant drop in Google organic SEO volume, did not materialize. Rob uses this reflection to illustrate the unpredictability of forecasts in the tech landscape.

What insights did Rob gain from reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey?

Rob shares that some of his favorite episodes from the past year include discussions on his biggest mistakes and best decisions as an entrepreneur. He emphasizes the importance of learning from both successes and failures, detailing principles such as making hard decisions with incomplete information and understanding that overnight success often takes a decade. These insights are designed to help aspiring founders navigate their own journeys more effectively.

What should listeners take away from Rob's reflections on predictions?

Rob's reflections suggest that while making predictions can be a fun exercise, they should be treated with caution. He points out that many predictions about the future of tech are inherently uncertain and often based on gut feelings rather than concrete evidence. This perspective encourages listeners to remain adaptable and open to change in the fast-evolving startup landscape.