SaaStr 801: AI, M&A, and the Future of SaaS: Lessons from Marc Benioff, Chair, CEO & Co-Founder of Salesforce

Join us for as SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin sits down for a conversation with Mark Benioff, the CEO, Chair and Co-Founder of Salesforce. Together, we delve into the practical applications of AI in the B2B space. With 40 billion under Salesforce's belt, this discussion sheds light on how AI is transforming enterprise software. Learn about Salesforce's major acquisitions like Tableau and Slack, the evolution of their product offerings, and how they seamlessly integrate AI with business intelligence and analytics. Mark also shares insights on the strategic direction of Salesforce, the significance of data management, and the role of AI assistants in revolutionizing customer service and product development. Tune in for a glimpse into the future of enterprise software and the impactful initiatives driven by Salesforce.

-----------------

 Hey everybody. SaaStr Annual is almost here. It's May 13th to the 15th, right here in the SF Bay, the heart of the AI Revolution, and you've gotta be part of it in B2B and be it SaaStr 2025. We'll have an incredible line above speakers, the best in SaaS and AI. From HubSpot and Perplexity from Anthropic, to OpenAI, from Snowflake to Cursor, to Google Coud, to Box to IBM and more.

We'll have AI matchmaking for founders and investors for the first time, and we'll have over 1,000+ C-level executives at our VIP summits. It's gonna be great. So we'll see you there. If you want to come in person, use my code Jason20 before tickets sell out.

And we'll see anyone that can't make it in person on our live streams. It'll be all over my Twitter and LinkedIn and everywhere. May 13th to the 15th 2025.

It's gonna rock.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Hey, are you tired of listening to hours and hours of sales calls? Recording is yesterday's game, folks. Yesterday's game attention.com unleashes an army of AI sales agents that auto update your CRM build custom sales decks. Spot cross-sale signals and score calls even before the coffee cold.

Teams like Bamboo, HR, and scale AI already automate their sales and rev ops using customer conversations. Step into the future at attention.com/saastr.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SaaStr 800: 10 Ways AI Is Going to Change Sales. For Real with SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin

SaaStr 799: The Series A Landscape in 2025: Insights from Chemistry VC’s Ethan Kurzweil

SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Ethan Kurzwiel, previously partner at Bessemer Venture Partners and now founding partner at Chemistry VC, took us through a deep dive of exactly where Series A funding is right now in 2025.

The early-stage venture landscape has experienced significant shifts since the peaks of 2021. We’re seeing:

1. Deal activity decline: From the highs of 2021 (around 3.5B raised in Q4 2021), we’re seeing a return to baseline levels but still below pre-zero interest rate era volumes.
2. Longer funding timelines: Seed to Series A timelines have stretched from approximately 12 months to 25 months on average, requiring founders to plan for longer runways.
3. More capital into fewer deals: While total capital deployment is returning to pre-2021 levels, it’s being concentrated in fewer companies, making the environment more binary and competitive.
4. Graduation rates plummeting: The percentage of seed companies successfully raising Series A has dropped significantly across all industries, creating a “crunch” for many startups.

Listen in for more!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SaaStr 798: The Top 10 Reasons to Come to 2025 SaaStr Annual May 13-15 in SF Bay with SaaStr CEO Jason Lemkin

SaaStr Annual is almost here! And we delve into the key reasons why you should attend SaaStr Annual 2025, happening from May 13th to 15th in the SF Bay Area. Learn about the unparalleled networking opportunities, including opt-in one-on-one meetings, braindates, and C-level summits. Discover how the event can help you meet potential C-suite hires and VCs, and stay ahead of the latest in B2B SaaS, Cloud, and AI through hundreds of workshops and sessions. Don’t miss out on the chance to be inspired by top industry leaders and get actionable insights for your business.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Join Jason Lemkin and Sam Blond as they discuss the evolving role of AI in sales and marketing. Featuring insights from SaaStr's CRO Confidential Series with Rippling, Databricks, and Toast, this episode explores how AI is reshaping the sales landscape. Learn about the impact of AI on productivity, the effectiveness of cold calls, and how technical sales require specific expertise. Don't miss out on these valuable lessons and real-world examples from top industry leaders!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SaaStr 796: The Secrets Inside Google Cloud’s Growth with Sarah Kennedy, Vice President Google Cloud Marketing

In our latest episode of the SaaStr What’s New series, SaaStr CEO and founder Jason Lemkin spoke with Sarah Kennedy, VP of Google Cloud Marketing. The conversation explores the explosive growth of Google Cloud and what’s driving this momentum. Kennedy highlights the critical role AI plays in their success, from Google's world-class infrastructure to the cutting-edge AI models like Vertex AI and Gemini. We dive into the specifics of why startups and enterprises are increasingly choosing Google Cloud, the importance of customer-centric strategies, and the shift towards developer-led decisions. We also explore Google Cloud's major partnership with Salesforce and how AI and security are transforming business strategies. Tune in for insights on how Google Cloud is shaping the future of AI and stay ahead of the curve with expert tips on leveraging these technologies for your business.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SaaStr 795: The AI Impact on Banking and Finance with CEO and Co-founder at Treasury Prime, Chris Dean

Join SaaStr CEO and Founder Jason Lemkin and Chris Dean from Treasury Prime as they delve into the intricate world of Banking as a Service (BaaS) and FinTech.

The discussion spans a host of critical topics, including the fallout from Silicon Valley Bank, the complexities of reconciliation, Synapse and Evolve's banking controversy, and the evolving financial landscape. They also explore the resurgence of FinTech, the impact of AI on banking operations, and Treasury Prime's upcoming AI-powered operational tools. A must-watch for anyone interested in the future of banking and financial technology.

----------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

------------------------------------

----------------------

Alright everybody in SaaS, this is it.

The biggest, best, most action-packed SaaS + AI event of the year—SaaStr Annual 2025—is coming this May. Three full days. 10,000+ SaaS and AI leaders and more tactical, no-fluff content than you’ll find anywhere else.

If you want to scale faster—$10M, $50M, $100M ARR and beyond—you need the right playbooks, the right connections and the right people in your corner. And SaaStr Annual is where it all happens.

• We'll have 100's of Legendary speakers from companies like Snowflake, HubSpot, OpenAI, Canva, and more.
• More networking than you can handle—meet your next investor, co-founder, or biggest deal.
• A New AI Demo & Pitch Stage— with your chance to win up to $5M in funding!

So don’t wait—grab your tickets now at SaaStrAnnual.com with my code jason100 to save $100 on tickets before prices go up. That's jason 100 at saastrannual.com

See you in May!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you know what would make your customer service helpdesk dramatically better?

Dumping it and switching to Intercom.

But, youʼre not quite ready to make that change.

We get it!

Thatʼs why Fin, the worldʼs leading AI customer service agent, is now available on every helpdesk.

Fin can instantly resolve up to 80% of your tickets,

Which makes your customers happier.

And you can get off the customer service rep hiring treadmill.

Fin by Intercom.

Named the #1 AI Agent in G2ʼs Winter Report.

Learn more at : inter.com/saastr

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------