RS355: Code Velocity and the Future of SaaS
From Rogue Startups by RogueStartups
February 25, 2026 · 58 min
About this episode
Craig and Arvid Kahl discuss the evolving role of SaaS founders in an AI-driven world, focusing on code velocity and the importance of quality and differentiation in software development.
What does it mean to be a SaaS founder in a world where AI can build features faster than we ever could? In this conversation, Craig sits down with Arvid Kahl to unpack the shifting reality of software, competition, and the craft of SaaS in 2026. They talk about code velocity, discernment, marketing in an AI-saturated world, and why SaaS is not dead, even as the software part becomes commoditized. Listen in to find out what actually matters these days, if you want to build something that lasts. Highlights from Craig and Arvid’s conversation: AI is shifting the founder’s role from building to judging quality and making decisions Code velocity now matters more than perfect architecture for most SaaS products Replacing junior developers entirely with AI risks creating a future talent gap Your real competition increasingly includes general AI tools, not just other SaaS companies AI has leveled the marketing baseline, making differentiation and brand more important than ever Standing out requires taste, point of view, and clear positioning, not just tactics Acquiring legacy SaaS and refactoring with AI could be a major opportunity The service part of SaaS still matters most, because…
People in this episode
Host: Craig
Guest: Arvid Kahl
Topics covered
- SaaS
- AI
- code velocity
- software competition
- marketing
- entrepreneurship
Keywords
- SaaS
- AI
- code velocity
- software development
- marketing
- entrepreneurship
- competition
- business strategy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AI, SaaS, Podscan, Castos, Twitter
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